When a temple committee in Malappuram began planning the construction of a ‘Naagathara’ (a platform for snake deities) and a resting space for devotees, it encountered a major hurdle: lack of land. The required space formed part of a nearby property owned by V.P.O. Asgar, secretary of Nadakkavu Juma Masjid and president of Tanaloor grama panchayat.

Not knowing how he would respond, officials of the Mulakkal Chennamkulangara Thanneer Bhagavathy temple approached Mr. Asgar with their request. To their surprise, he did not ask for time to think it over. Without hesitation, he agreed to donate three cents of land worth more than ₹6 lakh for the temple’s development.

Documents handed over

The land documents were later handed over to temple authorities in the presence of the mosque Imam, in what local residents described as a touching example of communal harmony. “Mr. Asgar’s act of kindness deserves to be written in golden letters. He truly represents the spirit of Malappuram,” said social worker Mujeeb Tanaloor.

Mr. Asgar said his decision was a natural one and reflected the culture of Malappuram, where people of different faiths have lived together peacefully for generations. He pointed out that similar instances of people helping temples, mosques and churches were not uncommon in the district. He also said he was happy to make the contribution at a time when deliberate attempts were being made to portray Malappuram as a land of intolerance. “What I did is nothing extraordinary,” Mr. Asgar said. “People here have always stood together, beyond the boundaries of religion.”

‘Model for society’

Temple officials praised Mr. Asgar’s generosity and described his gesture as a model for society. They said that in today’s world, even close relatives often hesitate to part with land free of cost, making his act even more meaningful.

They said that temple festivals and celebrations would continue to be organised with the cooperation and participation of all communities, as has long been the tradition in the area. Construction of the platform is expected to begin soon.

For many local residents, the incident is about more than a land donation. “It stands as a reminder that beyond political debates and attempts to divide society, ordinary people continue to uphold the values of mutual respect, coexistence and communal harmony that define Malappuram,” said Mr. Mujeeb. The National Forum for People’s Rights (NFPR), a human rights organisation, recently felicitated Mr. Asgar for his gesture.