INDIA BEATS
Beyond barriers
UMA MAHESWARI
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G. Gopalakrishnan, a self-made architect, has renovated and designed more than 70 mosques in Kerala.
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RISING HIGH: The Vavar mosque at Erumeli, near Sabarimala.
"IT is my conviction that all religions in essence are the same and meant for the betterment and spiritual guidance of man," says G. Gopalakrishnan, a self-made architect who has designed 76 mosques in Kerala. A Hindu by birth, Gopalakrishnan fasts every Jumma and destiny has made him an architect specialising in designing mosques. His latest work is the Kollurvila mosque in Kollam district, inaugurated on April 13 this year.
As a young man, Gopalakrishnan used to sketch buildings inspired by the blueprints of his contractor father Govindan. Financial crisis forced him to discontinue AMIE. He assisted his father, who was entrusted with the task of designing Palayam Mosque. The First Chief Engineer of Kerala, Kuttiammu took the initiative to renovate the mosque and the Chief Architect to the Government, J.C. Alexander designed the structure, assisted by Govindan. It thus became a symbol of unity among religions from the very beginning of its construction. P.P. Chummar provided financial support to Govindan in executing the contract. The mosque was erected in close proximity to a temple of Lord Ganesha and St. Joseph's Cathedral.
The legendary singer, Mohammed Rafi visited Thiruvananthapuram for a performance as a part of the fund raising effort to build the dome. The then President of India, Dr. Zakkir Hussain inaugurated the mosque in 1964. When the renovation was complete, everyone wanted to have a similar structure, with domes and minarets, facing the Mecca, the Holy Land.
The breakthrough
G. Gopalakrishnan.
Gopalakrishnan's major breakthrough was the construction of the Beema Palli, which is also a Dargah, spread over three acres. It has huge domes, a massive façade and tall minars (132 ft.). "It took 18 years to complete. It was Percy Brown's Indo-Islamic Architecture in India that triggered my inspiration," admits Gopalakrishnan and explains: "It was constructed in the Indo-Saracen style which specifies minars, domes (should be three quarter of a sphere), ceilings with lotus motifs, calligraphy, and jalli pillars. Today, the State tourism department has taken the initiative to construct a Pilgrim Amenity Centre in its premises. Four decades have passed and since then I have been associated with the designing of mosques. But the recently inaugurated mosque at Kollam is slightly different from the Indo-Saracen style, in the sense that the dome is semicircular, providing an area of 8,000 square meters where 3,000 devotees can offer namaz at a time.
Why did it take 18 years to construct a mosque? The money that goes into the making of any mosque for that matter is derived from the offerings made by the devotees. Six more mosques are under different stages of completion, including the Vavar mosque at Erumeli in Sabarimala. Its reconstruction began 12 years ago. Sabarimala pilgrims visit this mosque dedicated to Vavar.
Under Article 20 of the Architect Act 1972, Gopalakrishnan should have been given the architect license. But his blue prints have to be "accepted" by a qualified architect before he sets them in concrete. Now his architect son and daughter-in-law extend support to Gopalakrishnan, who has floated Manvamaithri, a forum for the promotion of universal brotherhood.
Expression of reverence
"However, I am yet to visit an Islamic architectural construction outside Kerala. I have designed the Sheikh Masjid in Karunagapally like the Taj Mahal. It will be complete in another six months. Koduvayil mosque in Kollam is a blend of Indo-Persian architecture and Nedunganda mosque adopts the Indo-Saracen style. Any kind of renovation of a mosque I consider as a task ordained," says Gopalakrishnan with a smile.
Gopalakrishnan has also designed a few churches and temples. The St. George Church at Chandanapalli is modeled like the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and the Alumkandathil Devi temple is built like a chariot. .
"My design was questioned when I used the motif of lotus in Beema Palli. How did a flower become a part of any religion?" asks Gopalakrishnan. The lotus is a beautiful flower. It's our national flower. By designing lotus petals I was expressing my reverence to it," he says.
Gopalakrishanan's wife is a Christian. The couple has given their children the freedom to pursue any religion of their choice. Thus the family has literally transcended all man-made differences.
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