It’s a worn out wall. But for centuries, it stands as a testimony to the peaceful co-existence of religious communities in Kerala.
It divides Pazhayannur Bhagavaty Temple and Paradeshi Synagogue in Mattanchey. The temple was built by the king of Kochi. The synagogue was constructed in 1568 by the Jewish community who migrated to Kerala following religious persecution by fanatical Christians in Spain and Portugal. The shops selling antiques, artefacts and cloths in Jew Town outside synagogue are mostly run by Muslim traders from Kashmir.
Here lived Sara Cohen, an aged Jewish lady who was taken care of by Taha Ibrahim, a native Muslim, till her death in 2019 at the age of 96. Mattanchery also houses some of the oldest Christian churches and cemeteries built in India. Kerala is abundant with such instances of symbiotic existence of religious communities.
But the hate factories are working overtime and they are gaining ground. Despite the rich tradition of religious tolerance, sadly, an invisible wall of separation has been growing among us……a thick wall of doubt and mistrust.
