A village in Kerala that Muslims shun
Blame superstition for it, there is at least one village in Kerala that has no Muslim resident - and one who did spend a night died of a mysterious illness. Thekumbhagom village near Kollam is home to some 14,000 people but not one of them is a Muslim. The reason, villagers say, is the presence of a Devi temple in the village. "Even though I don't believe in such stories, the reality is that we have no Muslim family in the small 10 islands that make up my 'panchayat' (village council), said Krishnankutty Pillai, its 50-year-old chief. "Old timers say no Muslim person can stay in the village beyond dusk," Pillai added. "They can come and go during the day and some Muslim traders do come and go." The villagers are mostly fisher folk and coir workers. Most of them hail from lower middle class families. Muslims account for almost 25 percent of the state's population. Local legislator Shibu Baby John says he is yet to come to understand the bizarre phenomenon. "Currently the village is cut off from the mainland. I expect things will change when a bridge connects the place with mainland Chavara. "The strange thing is that not a single villager raises any objection to any Muslim staying in the village. But hearing that they cannot stay beyond dusk, no Muslim wants to be here."
posted by Unknown @ 1:27 AM
3 Comments:
Let's put a Devi temple in every city and village in the land.
I've just called my city councilman to suggest that we pair ourselves as a "sister city" with Thekumbhagom.
rick, let us know where and when and we'll join you. I'll even become a priestess myself if that would help.
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