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Mohammed Abdur Rahiman

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Mohammed Abdur Rahiman
Born
Abdur Rahiman

1898
Kodungallur, Kingdom of Cochin, Kerala, British India
Died(1945-11-23)23 November 1945
Pottashery, British India
NationalityIndian
Other namesMohammed Abdur Rahiman Sahib
EducationGraduate
OccupationEditor
EmployerAl Ameen
Known forIndian independence movement activism and reorganising
Political partyAll India Forward Bloc Indian National Congress

Mohammed Abdur Rahiman Sahib (1898 – 23 April 1945) was an Indian freedom fighter, Muslim leader,[1] scholar,[2] and politician from Kerala.[3][4][5] He served as president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee(Malabar) in 1939.

Early life and education

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Sahib was born at Azhikode, Kodungallur, Thrissur District in 1898 in the Kingdom of Cochin, India. He completed his schooling at Veniyambadi and Calicut. He attended college at Madras and Aligarh but discontinued his studies at Aligarh University to participate in Non-co-operation movement and Khilafat movement in Malabar.[6]

Struggles and imprisonments

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Following the Moplah Riots of 1921, Sahib worked towards establishing peace in riot affected areas but was arrested and sentenced to two years imprisonment in October 1921 by the British authorities. For his participation in the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 where he participated in the breaking of the salt law on the Calicut beach, he was lathicharged and sentenced to nine months rigorous imprisonment and lodged at the Kannur Central Jail.[7]

Editor

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Mohammed Abdur Rahiman was editor and publisher of the Malayalam daily Al Ameen[8] which was published from Calicut during 1924–1939. The paper aimed to strengthen the freedom movement and nurture nationalism among the Muslims of Malabar. However conservatives in the community opposed to his progressive views conspired with the colonial authorities to repeatedly disrupt its publication. The paper was finally close down in 1939 by the British authorities. According to a local legend, an anonymous admirer of his offered him valuable jewellery to restart the paper after it closed but he refused it.[6][9]

Politics

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Sahib was a member of Calicut Municipal Council from 1931 to 1934 and the Malabar District Board of Madras Presidency from 1932. He was elected to Madras Presidency from Malappuram constituency in 1937. He became President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and a member of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1939. Mohammed Abdur Rahiman always opposed the Two-Nation Theory of the All-India Muslim League and he was the leader of Nationalist Muslims in Kerala.[10][11] His last days were spent convening meetings and creating awareness among Muslims against the division of India. For this, he suffered a lot from the Muslim League Party in Malabar.

Death

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Abdur Rahiman Sahib was jailed from 1940 to 1945 by the British Raj. After the release from jail, he returned to Calicut and started active participation in Congress activities. He died on 23 November 1945 aged 47 at Pottashery village near Chennamangallur (in the present-day Kozhikode district) just after addressing a public meeting at Kodiyathur[6] The medical records state that he died of a massive heart attack, but still some others believe that he was poisoned. The Kerala government took over Sahib's house at Eriad to protect it as a Nasrul Islam.

A 1998 commemorative stamp in honour of Abdur Rahiman

Commemoration

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In 1998, the Department of Posts and Telegraph issued a commemorative stamp in his honour.[12] The Muhammed Abdurahiman Memorial Orphanage College[13] and the Indianness Mohammed Abdur Rahiman Sahib Academy, Kozhikode have been named after him.[14][15] Poet Edasseri Govindan Nair immortalised Mohammed Abdur Rahiman Sahib in his famous poem Muhammed Abdurahiman which is acclaimed for both its poetic and lyrical qualities. The poem refers to historic events and the valiant role he played against the British and the stance he took against partition. Akkitham Achuthan Namboodiri's poem Maranamillatha Manushyan that dwells on religious amity and the need to imbibe the spirit of the Koran was written in memory of Sahib.[16]

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In 2011, the Malayalam film Veeraputhran, based on N.P. Mohammed's book Mohammed Abdurahiman Oru Novel, was released. Directed by P. T. Kunju Muhammed, it had the actor Narain playing Abdur Rahiman Sahib. The movie became controversial after writer Hameed Chennamangaloor alleged it of insinuating that Sahib was poisoned to death while medical reports and Sahib's official biography state that he died of a heart attack. The Indian Union Muslim League also expressed its reservations over its depiction in the film.[17][18]

References

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  1. ^ This movement was led by progressive leaders like Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi, Freedom fighters Mohammed Abdurahiman sahib, E Moidu Moulavi, K M Seethi Sahib, K M Moulavi etc. and supported by political leaders like C H Muhammad Koya. People from all quarters should come forward to support this genuine Islamic entity of Kerala..."
  2. ^ "Mohammed Abdur Rahiman Archives - FalconPost - Malayalam News Portal". Falconpost.in. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Mapping the life of a freedom fighter". The Hindu. 22 June 2010. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  4. ^ Educational Empowerment of Kerala Muslims: A Socio-historical ... 2007..."
  5. ^ "Kozhikode - Latest News, Politics, Events, Entertainment". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Muhammad Abdul Rahman Sahib". Kerala Press Academy. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Veeraputhran – tribute to freedom fighter Mohammed Abdul Rahiman". Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  8. ^ Natarajan, J (2017). History of Indian Journalism. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. p. 246. ISBN 9788123024271. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Special editions and rubber plantations". Himalmag.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  10. ^ Encyclopaedia of Islam. E.J Brill. p. 460. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  11. ^ Naqvi, Raza (14 August 2017). "Meet the Muslim freedom fighters who strongly opposed the Partition of India". Inuth.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  12. ^ "India 1998 Muhammed Abdurahman Sahib". Ebay.in. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  13. ^ "MAMOC". Mamocollege.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  14. ^ "About Mohammed Abdurahman Memorial Orphanage College". Mohammed Abdurahiman Memorial Orphanage College. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  15. ^ "SHASHI THAROOR INAUGURATES ACADEMY". Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  16. ^ "On the expanse of time". The Hindu. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Director rues row over Veeraputhran". The Hindu. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  18. ^ "Veeraputhran distorts history". The Hindu. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2013.

Further reading

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