Meet Sadiq Hussain: the man who built a Balaji Temple

Meet Sadiq Hussain: The man who built a Balaji Temple

For Sadiq Hussain Islam and Hinduism are like two eyes, he practices both with equal reverence. Like our late President Prof APJ Abdul Kalam, Sadiq is born in a Muslim family but was always surrounded by Hindu neighbours and a secular atmosphere at home in Rampchodavaram, in Andhra Pradesh.

The 56-year-old school teacher Sadiq Hussain has better knowledge of Hindu scriptures than Hindus infact he can give lecture on the differences between traditions of Vaishnavites and Shaivites. He attends to his Namaz at the Masjid and also attends to the worship rituals and discourses at Balaji temple built by him.

Sadiq Hussain has first built Sai Baba temple and then Lord Venkateswara temple spending his hard earned money and through donations. The Sri Rampa Venkateswara Swamy Devalayam was later taken over by Dwaraka Tirumala temple Administration run by AP Endowments Department.

After taking over, the Dwaraka Tirumala temple developed the temple with an expenditure of Rs. 80 lakh and made him a Trustee of the temple. As the temple Trustee, Sadiq takes part in almost all daily activities of the temple.

His devotion and dedication to Hinduism attracted the attention of Hindu Pontiffs Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamy and Swamy Paripoornananda of Sree Peetham in Kakinada and religious scholars like Chilakapati Raghavacharyulu. The two Pontiffs visited him and accepted his treat with love and affection.

Sadiq Hussain makes it a point to visit Tirumala temple every year along with his family members. His participation in Hindu religious activities is not objected by religious elders of both Islam and Hinduism. He says he had leant from his father the art of respecting other religions while practicing his own religion.Sadiq Hussain carries utmost respect from everyone in Rampachodavaram

He is a perfect symbol of religious harmony between the two religions. Recently AP Minister Manikyala Rao has felicitated him for his contribution towards religious harmony.