The Hindu : Kerala News : His work is his message

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

His work is his message

By K. Santhosh

M.S.A. Thajudeen at the Thiruvambadi temple in Thrissur. Photo: K.K. Najeeb

THRISSUR, JAN. 19. This Muslim loves working for Hindu temples. In these times of communal discord, the Thiruvambadi temple here conveys a significant message to the world by having employed M.S.A. Thajudeen of Pazhani in Tamil Nadu to get the outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum (Sreekovil) plated with gold.

Painstaking work

"Mr. Thajuddeen and his team from Chaliya Electroplating Works have been working here for the past one month. He has painstakingly worked on the Sreekovil refurbishment project,'' says M. Madhavankutty, secretary, Thiruvambadi Devaswom. Copper sheets are plated with 24-carat gold and affixed on the walls of the temple. The plating work is done at the Thiruvambadi Buildings opposite the temple.

"I and my Muslim co-workers do not go inside the temple. I oversee the work standing outside,'' says Mr. Thajudeen. Mr. Thajudeen's father, M. S. Ameer Jan, did similar work for the Thiruvambadi temple 30 years ago, Prof. Madhavankutty says.

Three generations

"Three generations of our family have worked for temples,'' says Mr. Thajudeen.

He claims to have worked for several temples in Kerala, including the Guruvayur Sreekrishna temple, Paramekkavu temple, Thirumandhankunnu temple, Malayalapuzha Bhagavathy temple, Anandavalleswaram temple and Arppookkara temple.

"I feel a strong attachment to temples. Having worked for different temples, I have been in close contact with the traditions and customs practised there. The discerning can see God in everything around,'' Mr. Thajudeen says.

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

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section