A.J. Philip
Kerala Islamic Cultural Centre
Symbol of India's syncretic tradition
AJ Philip
It might appear incongruous that the function to inaugurate the Kerala Islamic Cultural Centre at Mayur Vihar was held at the Karthiyani auditorium that belongs to the Uttara
Guruvayoorappan temple.
This was mentioned by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. What could be more pleasing than this, he asked.
However, the overwhelming majority of Malayalis present at the function did not find anything amiss in it, as underlined by Shri Babu Panicker.
As Shri TN Prathapan, MP, pointed out, even the podium from where everyone addressed the gathering and recited verses from the Holy Quran, had a picture of Lord Krishna on it.
Such “incongruities” did not end there. One person who did a lot for the fulfilment of the Malayalis’ desire to have the Islamic centre established there — in the vicinity of the temple and a church — was the late K Madhavan Nair, who was the President of the temple committee.
In fact, it was Nair’s close relationship with Shri TKA Nair, who was the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, that enabled the Kerala Muslim Welfare Association, Delhi, to get a plot of land from the Delhi Development Authority.
Many might not know that for a long time, the office of the temple served as the office of the Association.
The meetings to plan the construction of the building also used to be held in the temple office. At no time did Lord Krishna object to the deliberations held there.
Shri M.A. Yusuf Ali, owner of the Lulu Group of business that employs the single largest number of Indians abroad — about 40,000 — recalled a telephone call he received years ago from Shri TKA Nair.
“The Kerala Muslim Welfare Association is likely to get a plot of land. They need support to fulfil their desire to have an Islamic Cultural Centre built there. Please help them”. This was what Shri Nair told Shri Ali, who instantly agreed to support the project.
The beautiful four-storied building has come up with the liberal support extended by Shri Ali. When the Association members approached him through Shri A.T. Sainudin, he immediately gave a cheque for Rs 25 lakh. He also asked them to contact one Shri CK Menon who might also contribute something.
When they contacted Shri Menon, a prominent businessman in the Gulf, he gave them Rs 25 lakh with a condition, “Please tell Shri Yusuf Ali that I contributed what I could”.
Shri Yusuf Ali met the cost of construction, while many others contributed by way of items like furniture, electrical fittings, air-conditioners etc.
The Union minister promised whatever help the government could give to promote the socio-cultural and educational activities of the Association.
Shri Naqvi asked the Association members to spread word about the scholarship facilities his ministry extended to the students belonging to the minority communities.
In his address that began with a prayer in Arabic, Shri Shri Yusuf Ali recalled his visit to the masjid overlooking the Indian Parliament. He found the carpet stinking and the interiors crumbling. He sought the mosque authorities’ permission to get the house of prayer refurbished.
“Recently, a friend in the Gulf told me that on his visit to the mosque, he found my name mentioned there as the one who supported the refurbishing of the mosque”.
Shri Ali said that it was his nature to help others and he would not change, whatever the criticism he had to face on that account. He did not consider helping others as a measure of charity, for he considered it as his bounden duty. He said he was grateful to the Association for giving him a chance to help in the construction of the centre.
Shri KT Jaleel, Kerala minister for higher education, said, while the world was becoming more and more secular, some trends in India were causing concern.
In Saudi Arabia, for instance, cinema theatres have been allowed, women have been allowed to drive vehicles, women have been allowed to go on Haj pilgrimage on their own and a woman has been appointed as the Saudi Ambassador to the US. Temples are fast coming up in the Gulf. He said the ultimate victory would be that of secularism.
Former MP and Kerala Government’s special representative in Delhi, Shri A Sampath, recalled a song, composed by Vayalar, a Hindu, sang by Jesudas, a Christian, and acted by Prem Nazir, a Muslim, that prophesied, that “I will visit Guruvayoor temple one day”. The inauguration of the Centre was a fulfilment of that desire. It was the first time, perhaps, that Sampath saw the temple.
TKA Nair hoped that the area would always remain the Triveni Sangam of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Here are some pictures I took:
ajphilip@gmail.com
