Mangaluru’s Pavoor village: An oasis of peaceful coexistence, communal harmony
In the era of anti-Muslim and anti-Islam statements in the Indian media, there is a small village called ‘Pavoor’ in Mangaluru taluk which has set an example of communal harmony in the country.
Members of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities living in Pavoor village have launched a campaign to promote religious harmony by building an entrance that is common to their places of worship.
As part of the initiative, the single entrance will lead Hindus to the Shri Vaidyanath Temple, Muslims to the Al-Mubarak Juma Masjid and Christians to the Infant Jesus Church.
Mangaluru MLA UT Khadar said, “Residents from all religions and political parties have come together to build this arch, whose foundation stone laying ceremony was held recently.”
UT Khadar said, “Elected representatives, religious leaders and residents of Pavoor village have come forward to lay the foundation stone symbolizing religious harmony, which is essential to live peacefully in a multi-religious society like India.”
The arch has been built in the memory of my father Late UT Farid, who was then MLA from Ullal constituency and an ardent campaigner of religious harmony in South Karnataka.
He said, “The residents of ‘Pavoor’ are making constant efforts to make their village a more harmonious place to live in and they do not pay heed to any religious propaganda to disturb the peace.”
Pavoor village is an oasis of peaceful coexistence where people live harmoniously without allowing conflicts in the name of religion and politics.
The village has set an example of communal harmony in the country. Such communal harmony is needed all over the country which is the foundation of India’s unity in diversity.“Elected representatives, religious leaders and residents of Pavoor village have decided to construct an entrance arch of religious harmony to commemorate my father U T Fareed, who was the MLA of erstwhile Ullal constituency. Religious harmony is essential for the common man to live peacefully in a nation. It is the same harmony which is the foundation of India’s unity in diversity. Pavoor village is a peaceful land where people live harmoniously without allowing conflicts in the name of religion and politics. To continue their efforts to make the village more harmonious, they have taken a decision to construct a single entrance arch for the temple, mosque and church. Villagers of Pavoor don’t pay heed to the propaganda of communal forces,” Mangaluru MLA UT Khader said.
“The village has witnessed a sea of changes when it comes to development. I have already sanctioned funds for many development works including Rs 30 lakh for the construction of a main road. More funds will be sanctioned to make Pavoor a model village with the participation of people from all sections of the society,” Khader added.The harmony could be achieved through secularism that was not opposed to Hinduism and Hindutva that was not opposed to Muslims not only in coastal Karnataka, but across the country, he noted while speaking at a press conference here. He deplored the practice of voter polarisation on communal lines and said all the political leaders should ensure the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections were held without affecting communal harmony. Everyone, from politicians to socio-cultural and religious leaders, educationists, women leaders, media, writers and others, play a decisive role in this regard.
In an era of Hindu-Muslim conflict, which often occupies media headlines, stories of communal harmony become unrestrained. Pavoor village is a classic example of such media neglect. There is no one to tell this tale of peaceful coexistence.