LESSONS IN TOLERANCE
Seven Christian students documenting Sharjah’s beautiful mosques in new book
Seven Indian students from the Christian community in Sharjah, and representing the seven emirates, are on a special journey: Visiting the various mosques in the emirate.
These students, siblings from three expatriate Indian families, are coming up with a coffee-table book on the Islamic places of worship in Sharjah that are of historical importance and are portraying the peaceful coexistence of religions in UAE.
Through their project, these students aim to further strengthen the spirit of harmony between Muslims and Christians in the UAE, as well as express their immense gratitude towards the country. Smarnika S, 20, her brother Smaran, 11, Sara Alex, 18, her siblings, Joseph, 16, and Hanna, 13, Alex Lenju, 21 and his brother Joseph Lenju, 20, are part of the project.
Ingrid Nicholas, who is mentoring and guiding the students on the project, said: “These students’ endeavour also coincides with the 125th anniversary of the International Publishers Association, a token of appreciation to the world of books from the emirate of Sharjah, while the UAE takes pride in hosting Expo 2020 Dubai.”
Mosques of Sharjah
The book will be published with the endorsement of the Indian Association Sharjah, she added. Sharing the details of their project, the students told Gulf News that among the 2,813 mosques in Sharjah, they were documenting the architectural marvels of 50 prominent mosques in a pictorial storybook, detailing the inception, creation and completion of each mosque.
Mosques of Sharjah will be a 300-page hardcover coffeetable book on classical Arabian architectural marvels centralised around mesmerising heritage mosque buildings. Research data and special-angle photographs will narrate the storyline of each mosque from the time of its inception, royal decree, location and timelines.
Smarnika, the team leader and main author of the book, said she and her church friend Sara came up with the idea of the book. “We came up with the idea last year during the Covid-19 movement restrictions when most places were closed. We realised the importance of being physically present and going to certain places, especially places of worship, and it changed our perception of life and living,” recollected Smarnika, who recently completed her Grade 13 A level from St Mary’s Catholic High School, Dubai.
“Around that time, we decided to do something memorable and historic that could be given back to this nation in which we are residing. Putting Sara’s and my interests together, we came up with the initiative to make a pictorial book on the mosques of Sharjah.”