Where compassion knows no religious boundaries

The Mahal committee of Puzhakkattiri, near Malappuram, scripted a new chapter in the annals of communal camaraderie in the district the other day when they came forward to bear the higher educational expenses of a Hindu woman.

Satya Vani, daughter of the late V.T. Ramesh from Vadakkethodi Colony, Kottuvad, near Puzhakkattiri, would never have imagined that she would have to depend on a mosque in the neighbourhood to continue her education when she joined the B.Sc. Nursing course at a private college in Mangaluru last year.

Father’s death

Ms. Vani’s family plunged into debt soon after she joined the course as her father fell sick, entailing a huge amount of money for his treatment. Her father’s death a few weeks ago shattered the family, driving her to seek help from relatives and neighbours.

Her mother Santha approached the Mahal committee as a last resort to avoid Vani’s ouster from the nursing college for defaulting the annual fee of ₹1 lakh. The masjid committee, with the help of a philanthropist in the area, agreed to pay her fee dues in college as well as the family’s debts and to shoulder the financial responsibility of her education. The act of kindness from the Mahal committee won the hearts of the people in the region irrespective of their religion.

A team of committee members led by president N. Mohammed Musliar, Khatib Ashraf Faizi, secretary K.K. Moideen, and treasurer K. Hamza reached Vani’s house the other day and reassured their blessing and support for her education. They handed over the documents to her after clearing the family’s debts.