A Slice of Communal Harmony: Muslim Family in Bihar Donates their Land for elevation of a Hindu Temple

New Delhi, May 06, 2017: In the surge of hate crime across the world, a Muslim family in Bihar sets an example by donating their land for the elevation of a temple of Bihar. The land is near NH28 which the Muslim family gave for the construction of the main gate of the ancient temple at Bathanakuti in Bihar.

Tabarak Dewan and son Manu Dewan are the residents of Ahirauli Dabauli Tola Takia which came forward and donated their land.

"We have been living here for decades and taking care of each other. It is a gesture for communal harmony. We have decided to donate land for a good cause. All religions are the same", said Manu Dewan to India Today.

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Free from the communal disputes, Bihar houses 16.5 percent of Muslims of the total 105 million population. In the Seemanchal region, they account for almost 67 percent in Kishanganj, 37 percent in Purnea, 43 percent in Katihar and nearly 40 percent in Araria.

"By donating their costly land, the Muslim family has helped us to beautify the historical temple at Bathanakuti, which is under renovation. If they had refused to donate their land, it would have been impossible to construct the main gate of the temple. Thanks to their gesture now the temple's main gate will be constructed on their donated land," said Amrender Kumar alias Pappu Pandey, ruling JD-U legislator of Kuchaikot.

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According to the India Today report, another Muslim named Aali Raza, a resident of Ramaina Village in Kushinagar district also donated his land for the construction of the same historic temple, said the JD-U legislator.

It is not the first time that Muslims have helped Hindus in the construction of temples. Two years ago, some Muslims in Bihar's east Champaran district donated land to help build Hindu temple. The temple is also the largest one in terms of capacity to seat 20,000 people.

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"Muslims have not only donated land, they have also provided land at a nominal rate for construction of the world's largest Hindu temple. Without the help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project" said Acharya Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Patna-based cash-rich Mahavir Mandir.

Similar examples can be traced from previous records where Muslims have also helped build a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Durga in Bihar's Gaya district and construction of Lord Shiva temple in Begusarai district.

Hindus nevertheless also helped Muslims in the construction of Mazars over three decades ago.

– prepared by Naina Mishra of Newsgram, Twitter: Nainamishr94