Panakkad
Sayyid Muhammadali Shihab Thangal (1936-2009) the President of Kerala state
Muslim League was an influential leader of high repute who contributed much to
the consolidation of secular democratic traditions of the state. He had been
venerated by lakhs of people as a
spiritual leader cutting across all the barriers of religion, castes or
parties. He was so associated with the people and his presence was much sought
after . The milling crowds thronged to pay
him last respects were unpresedented in the history of Kerala, which was itself
a testimony of the affection,
admiration and esteem the people had towards him.
He was
born on 1936 at Panakkad near malappuram , Kerala, in a respectable family
of the descendants of the prophet Mohammad. His father PMSA pookoya
Thangal (1917- 1973) was a freedom fighter and spiritual leader. Their
ancestral home, Kodappanakkal at Panakkad is like a pilgrim center. Shihab
Thangal married the daughter of Sayyid Abdurrahman Bafakhy Thangal(1906 - 1973)
who was a prominent leader of his time and one of the architects of Democratic
front in Kerala. It is interesting to
not that Shihab Thangal followed the footsteps of these two great personalities
and became the President of Kerala State Muslim League. And he led his
organization undisputedly for more than three decades. The congress – IUML
combine of Kerala is the first successful experiment of collation politics in India .
Sayyid
Muhammadali Shihab Thangal opportunity to study abroad. After the successful
passing out of high school and preliminary religious studies he went Egypt for higher studies .
During 1958-1966, he studied at illustrious Al Azhar and Cairo universities. He
had post graduate degree in Arabic Linguistics and he was a scholar of
Sufi traditions which
has been regarded as one of the
bulwarks of the composite culture of our country too.
He was an
accomplished scholar and he penned a number of articles on culture, literature religion
etc., His collection of essay in Malayalam, Religion- society-Culture’ won the’ S.K. pottakkad Award constituted in
memory of Janpith laureate. Education
and philanthropic services were his special area of activities. He led so many
educational institution. He was closely associated in
sixties with Mampad College which was
the first regular college in East Ernad, an educationally backward area of erstwhile Malabar. He had the vision
of imparting quality education to students with value orientation. He had the
efficiently managed the Jamiya Nooriyya of
Pattikkad, a notable religious
college of south India. He was Kazi of more than four hundred Mahals and patron
of so many educational and cultural institutions. His commitment and involvement
in socio educational uplift of the downtrodden was highly commendable.
He led
an exemplary life, a role model for political leaders and social workers. His
house was frequented by visitors from every walk of life seeking his advice and
blessings. There were three books on him in Malayalam articles and short films
as well.
With his
demise, Kerala has lost a towering personality. He was much popular in gulf
counties. He had visited almost all important counties of the world. He was
like a good will ambassador of Indo - Arab relations.
He had personal contact with ruling families and leaders of Arab nations. And
more over the non- personal Indians in gulf counties had a champion in him. He
was very close to them. He had attended a number of cultural fests and
functions in gulf countries.
He
breathed his last on last August 2009 bequeathing a legacy of selfless service,
unimpeachable leadership and unblemishable character. His demise has created a vacuum, but his spirit is with us. History
will mark him as one of illustrious sons of our country. May Allah him eternal
bliss.
A GREAT MAN
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