The Hindu : Kerala News : Survey of Muslim places of worship soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Survey of Muslim places of worship soon

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 14. The Census Directorate will take up a survey of Muslim places of worship in the State from October, the Census Director, Sheela Thomas, announced here today. Simultaneously, the Directorate will also take up a survey of Christian churches.

The report is expected to be completed in a year, she told representatives of Muslim organisations at a meeting convened here today. Ms.Thomas said an expert committee comprising religious scholars and academicians had been constituted for the survey of Muslim institutions.

Questionnaire

The survey will be based on a questionnaire seeking details about the location, sect, the year of establishment, architectural features and important festivals. Village officers will visit each shrine on prior appointment to fill up the questionnaire.

Ms. Thomas said the survey was part of the census. She said a similar study on Hindu temples had been completed by the directorate. The report was published as a book titled `Temples of Kerala'.

Representatives of various Muslim organisations highlighted the need for an awareness campaign on the survey. They proposed a meeting of Jamaath office-bearers in the district.

Paucity of texts

An official press release quoting the Director said the survey was being taken up in view of the paucity of authentic texts on the history of Muslim places of worship and the contributions of the Muslim community to Kerala.

The District Collector, Tinku Biswal, the expert committee chairman, K. Alikutty Musaliar, the Census Joint Director, A.G. Bhaskaran, and the Additional District Magistrate, V. Prabhakaran Nair, were among those who attended the meeting.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala