Mohammed Abdur Rahiman
| Mohammad Abdur Rahiman മുഹമമദ് അബ്ദുർ റഹ്മാൻ محمد عبدرحمان | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
1898 Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kingdom of Cochin, Kerala, British India |
| Died |
23 November 1945 Pottashery, British India |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Mohammed Abdurahman Sahib |
| Education | Graduate |
| Occupation | Editor |
| Employer | Al Ameen Malayalam Daily |
| Known for | Indian independence movement activism and reorganising |
| Title | Editor |
| Political party |
Indian National Congress  |
| Religion | Islam |
Mohammad Abdur Rahiman (Arabi Malayalam: محمد عبدرحمان, Malayalam: മുഹമമദ് അബ്ദുർ റഹ്മാൻ ), (also Mohammad Abdur Rahiman Sahib) (1898 – 23 April 1945) was an Indian freedom fighter and Indian National Congress politician from Kerala.[1]
Early life and education
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.[2]
Struggles and imprisonments
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.[3]
Editor
Mohammed Abdur Rahiman Sahib was editor and publisher of the Malayalam daily Al-Ameen which was published from Calicut during 1929–1939. 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.[2][4]
Politics
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 in 1937. He became President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and a member of All India Congress Committee(AICC) in 1939. He always opposed the Two-Nation Theory of the Muslim League and he was the leader of National Muslims in Kerala. His last days and last Political activity was convene meetings and create awareness among Muslims against division of India. For this he suffered a lot from the Muslim League Party in Malabar.
Second World War and Subhas Chandra Bose
Being an admirer of Subhas Chandra Bose ("Netaji"), Muhammad Abdur Rahiman sahib associated himself with the Forward Block formed by Bose. After the Second World War broke out and 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 at Pottashery village near Chennamangallur just after addressing a public meeting at Kodiyathur.[2] The Kerala government took over Sahib's house at Eriad to protect it as a Nasrul Islam.
Commemoration
In 1998 the Department of Posts and Telegraph issued a commemorative stamp in his honour.[5] The Mohammed Abdurahiman Memorial Orphanage College and the Indianness Mohammed Abdurahiman Sahib Academy, Kozhikode have been named after him.[6][7] 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.[8]
In popular culture
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.[9][10]
References
- ↑ "Mapping the life of a freedom fighter". The Hindu. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Muhammad Abdul Rahman Sahib". Kerala Press Academy. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "Veeraputhran – tribute to freedom fighter Mohammed Abdul Rahiman". Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "Special editions and rubber plantations". Himal Magazine. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "India 1998 Muhammed Abdurahiman Sahib". Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "About Mohammed Abdurahiman Memorial Orphanage College". Mohammed Abdurahiman Memorial Orphanage College. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "SHASHI THAROOR INAUGURATES ACADEMY". Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "On the expanse of time". The Hindu. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "Director rues row over Veeraputhran". The Hindu. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ↑ "'Veeraputhran distorts history'". The Hindu. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2013.