Muslim Scholar's Discourse on Ramayana, Geeta Hit Among Hindus

April 27, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Economic Times

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Muslims_Geeta_discourse_a_hit/articleshow/2987528.cms

Every Thursday, the Kothanda Rama Swamy Temple here is packed to capacity by devotees to listen to the discourse on Kamba Ramayana, not by a Hindu teacher but by a Muslim scholar, M Abdul Salaam, whose secular lectures are popular in local mosques and churches as well.

Four years ago, Salaam, who was then a Tamil lecturer at a local college, was conferred the nickname "Geeta Salaam", after he delivered an eloquent discourse on Bhagavad Geeta. He surprised everyone with his knowledge of the holy book.

Later, Salaam replaced a Hindu scholar, who cancelled his lecture on Geeta at the last minute and since then he became the most sought after speaker of religious discourses of local Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious institutions.