At a time when the seeds of hatred are being sown and calls for genocide of Muslims are being given openly under the patronage of Hindutva forces in India, a Muslim family in Bihar has set an example of communal harmony by donating land for the construction of a grand Hindu temple in the Kaith-walia area of East Champaran district in the state.
Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khan, a businessman from East Champaran based in Guwahati, has donated land worth Rs.2.5 crore for construction of the world’s largest Hindu temple — Virat Ramayan Mandir — in the Kaithwalia area of East Champaran.
Acharya Kishore Kunal, chief of the Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust, that has undertaken the project, told reporters on Monday that land donation formalities have been completed.
“He recently completed all formalities pertaining to the donation of land belonging to his family for the construction of the temple at the registrar office of the Kesharia sub-division (East Chanmparan),” Kunal, a former Indian Police Service officer, told reporters, according to the report. The Acharya said that this donation by Mr Khan and his family is a great example of social harmony and brotherhood between two communities. Without the help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project, he added.
The Virat Ramayan Mandir is slated to be taller than the world famous 12th century Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, which is 215 feet high. The complex in East Champaran will comprise 18 temples with high spires and its Shiv temple will have the world’s largest Shivling. The total construction cost is estimated to be around 500 crore. The trust will soon take advice from the experts engaged in the construction of new parliament building in New Delhi.
Earlier in 2017, a Muslim family had donated their land for the upgradation of a temple in Bihar’s Gopalganj district, according to officials.—KMS
