Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Apr 23: Numerous controversies like Hijab, Halal cut, prohibiting Muslim traders from holding business in temple fairs, no Muslim sculptors should be allowed to do any artwork in temples etc have dominated the social life of Karnataka as well as India in the recent past. However, a Hindu sculptor has done artistic work of wood inside a mosque in coastal Karnataka and thereby given a clear message to society that communal harmony still exists.
Pakshikere Badriya Juma Masjid of Mulki taluk is renovated at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. When the mosque administrative committee was looking for a suitable sculptor for the wooden work, they came to know the excellent work of Harish Acharya done at the Majoor Malar Badriya Juma Masjid. So the committee gave the wooden art work of Pakshikere mosque also to Harish Acharya. Now the wooden art work on 1,000 sq ft of area in the mosque is a wonder of carving.
Many people arrive at the Masjid to see the attractive artistic work done by Harish Acharya. Harish is a resident of Kaup and is doing the ancestral work of wooden art work. He was trained by his brother Krishna Acharya and teacher Ganapati Acharya. He has learnt Indo-Arabic style of wooden carving also.
In Pakshikere Masjid eight Hindu sculptors have worked for 14 months to carve a magnificent wooden art work. Muslim scholars of Kerala, who have observed the wooden art work of Pakshikere mosque have highly appreciated the marvel.
Young sculptor Harish Acharya Majoor says, “There is a huge difference between Indian sculpture and Islamic style. The work which I did at Majoor Malar Badriya Juma Masjid was highly challenging. I learnt about Islam architecture and completed the work accordingly. Community is not important to me. I have done my work.”
Mohammed, president of Badriya Juma Masjid Pakshikere says, “We are living in harmony with people of all communities in Pakshikere. We were on the lookout for a suitable sculptor during the renovation of our masjid. When we enquired about the marvellous wooden art work done at Kaup Badriya Masjid in Indo-Islamic style, we came to know about Harish Acharya. When people cooperate with each other, communal harmony is protected.”