Hindus and Sikhs Help Repair Punjab Mosque

Nathowal (Ludhiana): Sikhs and Hindus in this village have helped Muslims repair an old mosque and even have a second storey constructed. In fact, people from other faiths are bearing more than 65% of the expenses. Nathowal has a population of around 7,000 of which around 500 are Muslims.
Says Mansa Khan, a contractor and president of Jamia Masjid at Nathowal, “All three communities lived in peace here even before Partition. During Partition, 10 to 12 families migrated to Pakistan, but 50 families stayed back as our Sikh brothers didn’t allow them to leave. Today, our relations are only stronger.” Repair on the mosque started six months ago. Of the Rs 25 lakh invested in the project, around Rs 15 lakh have been contributed by Sikhs and Hindus. They also ferry bricks, cement and sand for the construction. Muslim and Hindu community members also contribute to Gurdwara work. “Our village is more of a family. If a villager wants to donate money to a religious place, he contributes equally to the Gurdwara and the mosque. We will continue to uphold this spirit in the future. When we started work on the mosque, every villager pledged to help irrespective of his religion,” says Pyara Singh, block committee member and president of Gurudwara Dharamshalla in the village.