RAJKOT: A hillock with a dargah on the top is an unmissable sight as you enter the coastal town Rajula . Pause for a few seconds and you see a temple built next to this Muslim shrine.The story of Tajanshah Pir dargah and Khodiyar Mata temple unfolds as one starts climbing the 127 steps to Piriya Hill, which has become a symbol of communal harmony in this little town. Hindus are often seen praying at the dargah and Muslims participate in the Satyanarayan kathas organized in the temple.Co-incidentally, this is the dargah of Muslim saint Tajanshah Pir, who, locals say saved Rajula from communal violence around 700 years ago. While the shrine exists for several years now, the decision to build a temple on the same premises was a conscious one taken by the Rajula Kaumi Eka Committee after the 2002 post-Godhra riots.“In 2002, when violence gripped entire Gujarat , we were determined to ensure that the flames of hatred do not spread to our town. Therefore, we took a deliberate decision to build a temple of Khodiyar Mata and renovate the road reaching up to the hill top,” said Nurubhai Vora, founder of the committee.The committee was formed in 1996 but become fully functional only after 2002 riots. The committee manages both the shrine and the temple. Interestingly, when the idea for constructing the temple was floated, people voluntarily started giving funds, irrespective of their religion. Rajula, with a population of nearly 60,000, has around 15,000 Muslims.“We spent about Rs 13 lakh. We never went to people asking for funds but when they got to know that this would enhance the communal amity, they started coming to my shop with funds,” said Vora. The committee has seven Hindu and as many Muslim members.As per the advice of some Hindu priest, the committee decided to install the trident of Khodiyar Mata and the temple finally took shape in 2010. Manubhai Jakhda, the committee’s president said, “Now, we will be renovating the dargah and will install a dome on the top by spending of Rs 5 lakh.”

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