Restoration of Cheraman Juma Mosque - Speech by Dr Thomas Isaac
July 26, 2020 at 6:30:00 PM
This video highlights Dr. Thomas Isaac's speech during the foundation-laying ceremony for the reopening of Cheraman Juma Masjid on November 10, 2019.The Muziris Heritage Project is funding its restoration. The design of the new restored mosque is being done by Dr. Benny Kuriakose. Dr Isaac is saying that "we don't have the right to manipulate history".
The Muziris Heritage Project was started by the Kerala government to restore Muziris, also known as modern-day Kodugalloor, to its former historical and cultural glories. The restoration of the Cheraman Masjid is Muziris Heritage Projects most ambitious conservation project. Muziris Projects Ltd. is concerned with the restoration of a number of historic structures that capture the essence of a significant time in Kerala's history, a region known for its trade and cultural values.
The earliest mosque constructed in India was the Cheraman Juma Masjid, which is situated in the Muziris Heritage Project region. The Masjid's ability to grow as a tourist destination is unfathomable given its location and the religious and cultural importance it possesses.
As a result of the ongoing sustainable restoration work, the Muziris has regained its former glory as a historic spice route that explores the port city's multicultural character and has developed into a popular tourist attraction. The Cheraman Masjid, with its long history and captivating storyline of Kerala's mixed civilization, confirms this fundamental aspect of the Muziris Project.