(Shankar Raj)
In a rare site in a communally polarised world, a madrasa hall in Kerala’s Kottayam district — usually echoing with the recitation of the Quran — resonated instead with Hindu mantras for a departed soul. At its centre of the hall was the mortal remains of Omana Rajendran, 62, a ritual lamp casting its gentle glow across the floor. In a society often marked by division, this became a poignant symbol of unity.
The Mecca Masjid at Kumaranalloor near Kottayam upheld the spirit of religious harmony by opening its madrasa hall for Omana’s final rites. Her family, living in a rented house near the mosque, faced an unexpected crisis: the narrow road to their home could not accommodate a stretcher or a mobile freezer unit. With no way to bring her body home, her husband Rajendran and daughter Jyothika were left searching for alternatives. The mosque committee stepped forward, offering the madrasa hall as a space for the rituals.
Committee president Muhammad Faisal quickly sought approval from members through their WhatsApp group, and the decision was unanimous. By 10 p.m. Thursday, Omana’s body was placed in the hall for public homage, where it remained until Friday afternoon before being taken to the Muttambalam crematorium. The mosque authorities arranged all necessary facilities, ensuring that prayers and mantras could be performed without hindrance. Together, committee members and the grieving family cleared the hall to create space for the rituals.
Faisal emphasized that cooperation across faiths is vital for society’s progress: “We consider it our duty to assist others, as taught by our sacred texts. Somewhere along the way, we lost this spirit of cooperation, and it must be revived.” He added that the committee gave full freedom for Omana’s family to perform rituals according to their beliefs, even assuring them that the hall would remain available until the rites were complete.
This gesture was not an isolated act. The mosque has long fostered goodwill in the community, including distributing drinking water to Hindu devotees during the annual Kumaranalloor temple festival. Friday’s events, however, stood out as a deeply moving reminder that compassion transcends religious boundaries.
(Author is a Senior Journalist from Bengaluru)