Every day, 66-year-old Assiya lights a traditional Kerala lamp in her house, which is located close to a naagathara on the family’s 27.5-cent property.
Assiya says it is important to respect the religious beliefs of others.
“We may have different religions, but we treat all religions with equal love and respect,” says her 76-year-old husband, C.K. Abubacker, who inherited the property in Kochuvallam near Perumbavoor from his father about 50 years ago. He came to know about the naagathara on the property about 24 years ago and has since been guarding the deities there.
The couple has not only maintained the temple and undertaken repairs but has also ensured that the temple remains fully functional despite opposition from various quarters. “We have never let the annual rituals here get cancelled even once,” says Assiya.
The elderly couple, who had made a living by running a small shop for over three decades, now live with their son Mujeeb Rehman and his family.
Meanwhile, their decision to safeguard the shrine and the sacred grove around it has not gone down well with their community.
“I have stopped going to the mosque in my neighbourhood after its administrative committee criticised me. Many of my community members are also not cooperating with us citing the same reason,” says Abubacker.
The extreme opposition even led to the naagathara being destroyed a couple of times. But, on both occasions, Abubacker approached the court and reconstructed it under police protection. The recurring threats notwithstanding, the family, however, is still hopeful of things improving someday.
“We have taken up the onus of protecting it till the last breath of our lives. Nothing can stop us from doing that, even religions,” the couple insists.
