Kashmir Muslims Set Harmony Example
CAIRO – With a mosque and a Hindu
temple are situated next to each others, a
small village in Kashmir is standing as a
centuries-old example of religious harmony
in the Himalayan province.
“During the times of conflict we protected
Shiva temple not for publicity but we have
the same reverence for the temple as we
have for the Masjid,” Muhammad Khalil, a
70-year-old resident of Trehgam village on
frontier district Kupwara, told Greater
Kashmir website on Sunday, December 2.
Sharing a common yard, the grand mosque
in the village stands next to a Hindu temple,
reflecting religious harmony between
Muslims and Hindus.
“The Grand Masjid was constructed after the
temple was built,” local resident Abdul Aziz
said.
“And when the Sufi saint passed away, he
was laid to rest beside the Masjid.”
The village is popularly known as the mother
of Kashmir’s resistance movement.
It is the birthplace of Shaheed Muhammad
Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in 1984 in
Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
Although no Hindu families live currently in
the village, Muslims continued to protect their
place of worship, securing their visits to the
temple for years.
“Now sometimes Pandits come and offer
Puja in the temple,” Khalil said.
“They feel like in their homes.
“And they appreciate us for taking the temple
in our own custody when there was no one
around to protect it.”
The 400-year-old temple nowadays is in the
custody of the Indian army.
Kashmir is divided into two parts and ruled
by India and Pakistan, which have fought two
of their three wars since the 1947
independence over the region.
Pakistan and the UN back the right of the
Kashmir people for self-determination, an
option opposed by New Delhi.
Hindu Appreciation
Hindus praise Muslim efforts to protect their
temple in the Kashmiri village.
“If we offer Puja here it is solely because of
the people of Trehgam who have protected it
over the years,” says a Hindu devotee
Sukwinder.
“We shall never forget their contribution in
protecting the temple.”
In front of the worship places lies a famous
decades-old pond that is the main source of
water for almost half a dozen nearby
villages.
Sir Walter Lawrence in his famous book “The
Valley of Kashmir” writes, “The pond of
Trehgam indicates the utmost beauty of
Kashmir.”
Villagers say the pond is a symbol of Hindu-
Muslim unity.
“It is sacred to both Hindus and Muslims,”
says a local resident.
“Moreover, it is a lifeline for thousands of
people here as they are get pure water supply
from the pond.”
Kashmiri farmer Abdul Jabbar agrees.
“Its water is also used to irrigate thousands
of Kanals of paddy land in times of severe
water crisis,” he said.
“It is a blessing of Almighty Allah.”
Yet, villagers complain that Trehgam has
always been neglected by successive
governments when it comes to its overall
development, leaving its roads in shambles
“We believe we are being neglected only
because this village is the birthplace of
Shaheed Muhammad Maqbool Bhat,” a local
resident said.
“We approached the district administration
many times regarding the lack of basic
facilities in this village but there was no
improvement on ground.”
Very much true 
... when allmost all the Funds of every Temple goes to Trust which help runs Hospitals , Schools & Collages ...
