Harshini Brahmavar
Pics: Akshata Shetty
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Feb 18: Even as the debate over 'intolerance' rages across the nation, here is a heart-warming story that restores and reaffirms our faith in humanity and epitomises the fact that communal harmony is still very much alive. Meet Sheikh Makbool, a devout Muslim who takes prides in the service he renders to Hindu temples.
Makbool is the son of Ameer Hamza, who himself was a great craftsman of ornaments of Hindu gods. Makbool’s workshop is set up a little away from Sode Math in Udupi. Everyone knew his father, Ameer Hamza who was popularly known as 'Belli Saheb'. He passed away some years ago.
As we enter his workshop, Makbool and his younger brother Altaf welcome us with a broad smile. They work in the midst of dusty chaos of metal tools of many shapes and sizes, wooden and fibre chairs and photos of people hanging on the faded wall. There is a rest room at the far end of the small room where they work.
Come rain or shine, this is the only roof they have been working under since the days of their grandfather Peer Saheb.
Makbool loves his job very much and he takes pride in showing us an album of his work. He has carved a temple's main entrance (Garbha Gudi), embossed windows, exquisite palanquins, silver frames for idols, pooja articles, embellishments and a whole lot of assorted articles for worship have rolled out of his workshop with impressive skill. Makbool attributes his skills to his father Hamza who inherited this skill from his father Peer Sahib.
He also takes pride in carving Hindu idols. He has carved golden chariot at Pejawar Math and golden chariots for Kateel, Uppunda, Maravaante, Sode, Idagunji, Bengaluru and Mumbai temples.
Makbool shows us some exceptional photos of his father receiving felicitation from various Swamijis. A photo that catches our eye is of Hamza with Pejawar Swamiji in his house.
Recalling his days with his father, Makbool says, "My father Ameer Hamza learnt this skill under Subbanna Achar who headed the team of silver and gold craftsmen in Mysore Palace. After seeing Hamza’s interest in crafting, Achar trained him in all skills of the trade.
"I have inherited crafting skills from my father as a gift and I will continue this work. Now my younger brother has also joined me. We have been trained in a technical training centre. My father is our guru. He did silver designing for Dashavatara set for Udupi Sri Krishna Math. We have served throughout Karnataka carving silver.
"Now we are getting orders from different places. It takes three to five months to complete a work. May be the future generation will not continue this work but we intend to inspire others to take up this craft," he says.
"Besides, being deeply rooted in our faith, we also believe in Hindu gods and before going to work, we usually offer tender coconut for Bhutaraja (Hindu Daiva) belonging to Sode Math, which is close to our shop. My father had an intimate relationship with all Ashta Math Swamijis. Our grandfather even taught wrestling to one of the Pejawar Math Swamijis," Makbool says with a smile.
"If the work becomes difficult and we are low on inspiration, we usually take a round of the Sri Krishna Math and Car Street and then continue the work. We also go to the Masjid and attend Namaz every Friday. We believe God is one, and this belief has kept us moving."
He has rendered his services to many temples like Uppunda and Nagur, where he carved the 'Kavachas' offered for Rama and Laxman. "We have also worked at Uppoor and Kemmannu temples in Mumbai," he adds.
Altaf, his younger brother says, "We are seven siblings, and everyone is engaged in their own professions except my brother Makbool and I who have continued our father's profession of silver crafting. If there is a will there is a way, and if you are interested in a particular work, you learn the skills easily. We have to carve the idols in our minds first before carving them in reality. We have become experts in crafting Hindu idols, crowns, armour plates, silver flags, and so on.”
Due to technological advancement, the demand for crafting has become less but this has not affected Makbool and Altaf as their loyal customers have stayed on.