Chandigarh: A 75-year-old Sikh woman from Jakhwali village in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district has set a rare example of communal harmony by donating her five marla private land for the construction of a mosque.
The woman, Rajinder Kaur, made the donation in a village where Sikhs form the majority population while Hindu and Muslim families have been living peacefully for decades. The Muslim community had been feeling the absence of a mosque for nearly 30 years. During recent panchayat elections, the issue came up as Muslim residents had to travel nearly two kilometres to Mullanpur to offer prayers.
Rajinder Kaur’s grandson and village panch Monu Singh said that religious construction was not possible on government land. He said the family then decided to donate their private land for the mosque.
Punjab’s Shahi Imam Maulana Usman Ludhianvi laid the foundation stone of the mosque on December 7.
Rajinder Kaur said Sikh teachings give the message of serving humanity and she felt deep peace by taking part in the noble act. Notably, Sikh and Hindu families have also contributed financially towards the construction.
The village already has a gurdwara, a Shiv temple and a dargah. With the construction of a mosque, Jakhwali has emerged as a symbol of unity and communal harmony.
Mosque committee president Kala Khan said there is no religious division in the village and all residents are working together to complete the construction at the earliest.
