Valiyangadi Jumammasjid
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Kerala mosque celebrates 18th century Hindu martyr
The Times of India, Nov 03 2015
Kerala mosque celebrates 18th century Hindu martyrTP Nijeesh
A mosque in Kerala's Malappuram has withstood the ravages of time over three centuries to stand tall as an epitome of India's tradition of tolerance and peaceful co-existence. Local lore has it that a Hindu soldier who died in battle against a minister of the Kozhikode `zamorin' (ruler) 290 years ago was buried at Valiyangadi Jumammasjid. To date, the grave of Kunhelu, revered locally as a hero, is offered special prayers at the mosque.
According to `Malappuram Kissa Mala' by poet Moyinkutty Vaidyar, 44 soldiers died in the battle.
A member of the `thattan' or goldsmith community, Kunhelu is believed to have fought alonside 43 Muslim warriors against an army led by the minister, Varakkal Para Nambi, following a dispute over tax collection.
Muslims of the region were forced to flee when Nambi set Valiyangadi Ju mammasjid ablaze. However, the issue was eventually resolved and Nambi himself rebuilt the mosque and brought many Muslim families back to Malappuram. Freedom Under Attack P 12 The mosque has evolved since to become a major religious centre in the town.
Over the years, the mosque administration has made it a point to invite Kunhelu's descendants to prayer meetings as well as the an nual `aadu nercha' (goat sacrifice) held in memory of the martyrs. “During the nercha, held in the Islamic month of Sha'ban, cheerni (sweet) is prepared and distributed to the public,“ said Manukuttan, a teacher and descendant of Kunhelu.
Sayed Muthukkoya Thangal, the qazi of Malappuram, said the tradition showcased the unity among Hindus and Muslims.
