Kerala Muslim youth build Lord Rama sculpture

Triprayar (Kerala), Dec 10 (ANI): At times when the whole of India is communalizing the Babri Mosque demolition at Ayodhya and the parliamentarians are debating on the reports of the Liberhan Commission, in a small village of Kerala a poor Muslim youth has created a sculpture of Hindu Lord Rama to bring an end on violence in the name of religion.

Abdul Rasheed, a mason by profession, who along with his wife have kept aside their lives for the betterment of society and to bring an end the violence in the name of religion have spent all their savings out of daily wages in creating the statue of Lord Rama to be installed in Tripayar Sree Rama Temple with the permission of chief priests and other followers.

The Lord Rama sculpture entirely made of concrete of six feet tall is build to create awareness among people who are fighting in the name of their own religion without any faith in the teachings taught by great people like Ram.

Abdul Rasheed said "being an Indian we should all protect India as our own country let it be from any religion Muslims, Hindus or Christian or belong to any caste, it is our duty to save our country, so I sculptured the statue of Lord Sree Ram to create awareness to those who people who kill one another in the name of religion".

He has a formed a small group of like minded people in the village Andhikad near Thrissur district in Kerala, who work during their free time for anti alcohol and tobacco drives and has many plans to undertake campaign in near-by schools.

When he had half finished sculpting someone called and threatened to kill him if it is not stopped, his wife stood up and told him that there is no point in dying like a dog; we will die together and one should be brave.

That was the turning point for Abdul. He completed the work without any help from others.

The process took him around five months to finish after a final touch of enamel painting.

The Hindu groups at the temple have welcomed the move taken out by Rasheed and said that the statue will be installed in the compound under a tree at the Sree Rama Temple once the arrangements are in place.

"Abdul Rasheed informed the Chief priest about it and took his blessings before sculpting the idol of Lord Sree Rama, which will be displayed near the compound wall of the temple. After making all the prior arrangements and permission by the Cochin Devasom Board the idol will be installed in the temple premises soon", said Temple Manager of Triprayar Sree Rama Temple, M.S. Kashivishwanathan. By Juhan Samuel (ANI)