The united colours of Jama Masjid

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" times="" new="" roman="" class="author">Ankit Srivastava</span><br />LUCKNOW: As Fortress India battles a million mutinies, barely 100 miles from Ayodhya in the heart of the erstwhile Awadh, Hindus, Muslims and members of various religions have united in their effort to renovate a mosque.<br />In an exemplary endeavour of religious amity, these common men and women have saved the monument from ruin and breathed a new life into it.<br />Jama Masjid, as the mosque is known, is a replica of famous Jama Masjid of Delhi and was constructed in 1845 AD with the intention of surpassing it in beauty and size. Despite being a protected monument of national importance, it was in a pitiable state, with its 3 domes on the verge of collapse and its courtyard infested with brambles running wild.<br />The desire to save the mosque was expressed in 1995, and ironically, by the local population that lives around it. United by a common thread of desire, a motley mix of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims bonded together to institute an informal organisation, which would oversee the restoration. <br />Rizwan Haider, Assistant Commandant (retd) PAC, who has led the effort, says, “though the going was tough initially, we have received cooperation from all quarters. In fact Hindus and Sikhs have contributed equally to the cause. At times, when members of our community have been unable to contribute, Hindus and Sikhs have come forward to do the best they could. If there was no money, they offered their skills and services�.<br />Starting with a mere Rs 816 in 1995, the amount spent on the renovation of the mosque has exceeded Rs 3,50,000 by 2002. In addition to extensive repairs and painting, the courtyard has been spruced up and toilets constructed. A further Rs 4 lakh has been spent on renovating the adjoining Imambara.<br />At every stage of the renovation, the Archaeological Survey of India was consulted and their permission sought. Even the colour and texture of the paints to be used in the repainting of the structure, and manufactured by a Mumbai firm, have been approved by the ASI. <br />The nobility of purpose with which the group carried on, with hardly any expectation of returns, finally exhorted the ASI to move its feet. The repair of the 3 huge domes was started by the ASI in 2001. Work has been completed on one, while the remaining two are in the line.<br />RS Fonia, superintending archaeologist, ASI says, “this is purely a voluntary effort. The country requires several more intellectual movements like this. If every citizen had as much public spirit, there would hardly be any problems�.<br />For those who dream of overcoming the petty barriers of caste and creed the mosque stands as a living tistimony to its possibility.<br />However problems have cropped up. The orthodox Hussainabad trust, which is responsible for the building, views the renovation work as “overtures on its jurisdiction�. <br />According to ASI officials, it has repeatedly tried to stall the restoration work. <br />Encroachments have come up brazenly in the complex, allegedly shielded by the office bearers of the trust. </div> </div>