In a heartwarming example of communal unity, a Sikh family in Malerkotla district, Punjab, has donated land to the local Muslim community for building a mosque.
Sukhjinder Singh Noni, the former Sarpanch of Umarpura village, and his brother Avninder Singh contributed 5.5 biswas of prime land for the mosque, valued at approximately Rs 7–8 lakh, as reported by The Indian Express.
Malerkotla holds historical significance as the only district in Punjab with a notable Muslim population that remained in India after the 1947 Partition.
The region’s unique bond with Sikhs stems from its Nawab’s opposition to the execution of the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, in 1704, fostering a tradition of mutual respect and protection between the communities
Sukhjinder Singh shared that the Muslim community in the village had long been without a mosque and had to travel to neighboring areas for prayers.
“About 30 percent of our village population is Muslim, and they didn’t have a mosque. My brother and I decided to donate this land, fulfilling our commitment,” he explained.
The mosque’s foundation was laid on January 12 by Punjab’s Shahi Imam, Mohammad Usman Rehman Ludhianvi, who praised the Sikh family’s gesture as a powerful message of love and humanity.
Congress leader Smit Singh, who ran for the Amargarh Assembly seat in 2022, echoed this sentiment, calling the donation an inspiring act of compassion.
The gesture has sparked further support from other Sikh villagers. Tejwant Singh contributed Rs 2 lakh, while Ravinder Singh Grewal donated Rs 1 lakh.
Their collective effort underscores the strong spirit of solidarity in the village.
This act of generosity has become a beacon of communal harmony, reinforcing the shared values of respect and coexistence between the Sikh and Muslim communities in Malerkotla.