RELOCATION OPTION IN MOSQUE-TEMPLE ISSUE MAY HAVE RESOLVED IT AMICABLY

A Scandinavian firm, Henning Larsen, is working on an elaborate plan to dismantle the church carefully, with its pieces catalogued and transported to the new town centre.

- RASHEED KIDWAI

Had Supporters of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya explored multiple options; Kiruna town in Sweden could have helped them resolve the vexed mosque-temple issue that resulted in thoughtless violence, disquiet and division in society.

Kiruna, a Swedish town north of the Arctic Circle, is undergoing one of the most ambitious urban relocation projects in history due to the expansion of the Swedish government-owned Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara [LKAB] iron ore mine beneath the town. As part of this process, many buildings, including the iconic Kiruna Church, considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in Sweden, are being relocated to a new area approximately 3 kilometers east of its current location. Kiruna's church is a terracotta-colored building designed to resemble a hut of the indigenous Sami people. In fact, the word Kiruna comes from the Sami word giron, which means snow grouse.

Sometime in 2025, the entire 600-tonne church's wooden building will be loaded onto trailers and moved to a new spot near the local graveyard.

On a private visit, this correspondent saw how local authorities and community leaders are treating the church's relocation not just about preserving the church but as a symbol of their collective efforts to preserve Kiruna's unique heritage and identity while adapting to the challenges posed by modern industrial activities.

Kiruna Church, completed in 1912, is one of Sweden's largest wooden buildings and a prime example of early 20th-century Nordic architecture. It has significant cultural and historical value, making its preservation and relocation a top priority.