Saukar Masjid
{{Short description|Mosque in Alappuzha, Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Saukar Masjid
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| map_type = India Kerala
| map_size = 250
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| map_caption = Location of the mosque in Kerala
| location = Alappuzha district, Kerala
| country = India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.495316|76.337071|region:IN-KER|format=dms|display=it}}
| religious_affiliation = Islam
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| status = Mosque
| functional_status = Active
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| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Mosque architecture}}
| architecture_style = {{ubl|Ottoman|Eastern European}}
| founded_by = Raja Kesava Das
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| year_completed = 1850
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The Saukar Masjid is a mosque in the Alappuzha district, in the state of Kerala, India. Completed in 1850, the mosque is an historically important structure in the Alappuzha district. The original mosque building was renovated in 2022 under the Alappuzha Heritage Project of Government of Kerala.
History
Alappuzha was an important commercial and industrial centre in medieval Kerala. Raja Kesava Das, the Diwan of Travancore, known as the 'creator of modern Alappuzha', made Alappuzha a major port city of Travancore.{{Cite web |title=History |work=District Alappuzha |publisher=Government of Kerala |url=https://alappuzha.nic.in/en/history/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |language=en-US}} To improve the spice trade, the Diwan built many roads, canals, and warehouses. Traders and businessmen from throughout India, including Kachi memans, Gujarati Muslims, and Pathans, came Alappuzha in search of employment and market. Many Gujarati Muslim families were invited from Bombay and settled at the initiative of the Diwan.{{Cite web |last=ലേഖകൻ |first=മാധ്യമം |date=2022-04-18 |title=പൈതൃകപദ്ധതിയിൽ മുഖംമിനുക്കിയ ആലപ്പുഴ മഖാം മസ്ജിദിന് പുതുഭാവം |work=Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/local-news/alappuzha/new-look-for-alappuzha-makham-masjid-982594 |access-date=2024-06-27 |language=ml}} The Diwan had also allotted sites to build places of worship.
The Saukar Masjid was built on a land granted by Raja Kesava Das in 1850 to the Halai Memon community who came from Porbandar in Gujarat.{{cite news |title=ആലപ്പുഴ പൈതൃകപദ്ധതിയിൽ മുഖംമിനുക്കി ' സൗക്കാർ മസ്ജിദ് ' |url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/alappuzha/sawker-masjid-timeless-beacon-of-spiritual-heritage-in-alappuzha-local18-649587.html |work=News18 മലയാളം |date=14 January 2024 |language=ml}}
Location
Saukar Masjid is located in Alappuzha municipality, approximately {{convert|1.7|km}} from the Alappuzha Bus Stand and approximately {{convert|3.1|km}} from the Alappuzha railway station.{{cite web |title=Saukar Masjid |url=https://www.dtpcalappuzha.com/destination/saukar-masjid |website=DTPC alappuzha |language=en}}
Architecture
The Saukar Masjid an historically important structure in Alappuzha. The mosque was built in the Ottoman and Eastern European architectural styles that prevailed at the time of its construction. Considering its age and architectural features, restoration work was carried out as part of the Alappuzha Heritage Project in 2022{{cite web |author=Naseef, T. P. |url=https://www.bennykuriakose.com/post/the-kerala-mosques-that-has-been-restored-to-the-past-glory |title=The Kerala Mosques That Have Been Restored To Their Past Glory: Saukar Masjid |publisher=Benny Kuriakose and Associates |date=28 June 2023 |access-date=18 January 2025 }} and the mosque was converted into a protected place{{clarify|date=January 2025|reason=So is it on the List of State Protected Monuments in Kerala?}} of worship by the Kerala Government.{{cite web |title=15th Kerala Legislative Assembly-proceedings |url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/15kla/Session_8/ans/u06676-210323-08-15.pdf |publisher=Kerala Legislative Assembly}}
See also
{{stack|{{portal|India|Islam}}}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Mosques in India}}
{{Islam in Kerala}}
Category:19th-century mosques in India
Category:Mosques completed in the 1850s
Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1850
Category:Religious buildings and structures in Alappuzha district