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Daily Read: India

Punjab Villages Unite to Rebuild Mosques

Punjab villages are restoring mosques that were destroyed after Partition, with Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims working together. In the villages of Jakhiwal, Punawal and Umarpura, community members have donated land, money, bricks and labour to rebuild or build new mosques. Sikh elder Bibi Rajinder Kaur in Jakhiwal persuaded her grandson to donate land, while Hindu priest Jaspal Sharma in Punawal gave land and hosted a feast when the mosque opened in February. In Umarpura, Sikhs helped restore an antique Muslim shrine, and local donors emphasised that the area is a place of love and unity. The Guardian photo essay shows the cooperation, with villagers of different faiths contributing bricks, cement and money. The initiative reflects a broader pattern of inter‑faith tolerance in Punjab, where festivals such as Eid and Gurpurab are celebrated together. The project is led by people who remember the violence that split families and homes between India and Pakistan. By rebuilding these places of worship, the villagers are healing old wounds and demonstrating that community solidarity can transcend religious differences. Their collective effort offers a hopeful model for reconciliation.

· Good News Network

The essential points

  1. 01Sikh elder Bibi Rajinder Kaur donated land in Jakhiwal, sparking mosque reconstruction.
  2. 02Hindu priest Jaspal Sharma hosted a celebratory feast after his mosque opened in February.
  3. 03Sikhs restored an antique Muslim shrine in Umarpura, reinforcing inter‑faith solidarity.
  4. 04The Guardian photo essay documents villagers of different faiths contributing bricks, cement, and money.
The full brief

Punjab villages are restoring mosques that were destroyed after Partition, with Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims working together. In the villages of Jakhiwal, Punawal and Umarpura, community members have donated land, money, bricks and labour to rebuild or build new mosques. Sikh elder Bibi Rajinder Kaur in Jakhiwal persuaded her grandson to donate land, while Hindu priest Jaspal Sharma in Punawal gave land and hosted a feast when the mosque opened in February.

In Umarpura, Sikhs helped restore an antique Muslim shrine, and local donors emphasised that the area is a place of love and unity. The Guardian photo essay shows the cooperation, with villagers of different faiths contributing bricks, cement and money. The initiative reflects a broader pattern of inter‑faith tolerance in Punjab, where festivals such as Eid and Gurpurab are celebrated together.

The project is led by people who remember the violence that split families and homes between India and Pakistan. By rebuilding these places of worship, the villagers are healing old wounds and demonstrating that community solidarity can transcend religious differences. Their collective effort offers a hopeful model for reconciliation.