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University of Calicut,
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E Moidu Moulavi (1886–1995) was an Islamic scholar, freedom fighter, social reformer and political leader. He was born in Ponnani taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala.
E Moidu Moulavi was born in Marancheri of Ponnani taluk of Malappuram district to an eminent Islamic scholar and freedom fighter Malayankulathel Marakkar Musliyar and Uvvathi umma. He received primary education from his father and studied till fourth standard in a public school near to his house. Later, he joined Dars in Kodancheri masjid. After his studies there, he joined Darul Uloom Arabic college of Vazhakkad. From there, he studied under the guidance of renowned Islamic scholar and reformer Chalilakath Kunjahmed haji. Kunjahmed haji was soon expelled from the college owing to his reformist ideas. After leaving the college, Chalilakath began a Dars in Nallalam. Moidu Moulavi followed him by choosing to study in Nallalam. In 1919, he joined the freedom struggle. His children are M Rasheed, M Subair, Safiya, Rasiya and Ayisha. He died on 8 June 1995, at the age of 109 in Kozhikode.
Social reform/National movements
He was an expert in Arabic, Urdu and Tamil languages. He was the editor and one of the founders of a newspaper titled ‘Al Ameen’, which was founded in 1924. The newspaper translated important articles from works in Arabic and Urdu languages. The newspaper continued its publication for 10 years until it was banned by the British in 1934. He also wrote a pamphlet ‘Satyalekha’ to inspire people to join the non-cooperation movement against the British. He was a close friend of E.K Moulavi, who was a Muslim scholar and reformer. Along with him, Moulavi prepared the first-ever dictionary in Arabi-Malayalam language. In 1919, he joined the Indian National Congress. In 1921, at a conference of the Congress party, he met Muhammad Abdurahman Sahib who inspired him to become an ardent activist for the Congress party. He became a long-term member of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and All India Congress Committee (AICC). He also occupied various administrative positions such as the municipal councillor of Kozhikode and member of the Malabar District Board. He participated in the Quit India movement in 1942 and was arrested by the then-British government. He was released in 1945.
He was one of the founding figures of ‘Majlisul ulama’ which was formed to facilitate reform within the Muslim community and to enable their active participation in freedom struggle. In 1921, he was arrested for participating in protests related to the Khilafat movement. He was also a part of the Constitution drafting committee. He translated ‘Rasule Rahmat’ by Abul Kalam Azad from Urdu at the age of 102. He also wrote a biography of his close associate Mohammed Abdul Rahiman Sahib titled Ente Kuttukaran (My friend). Other major works of Moulavi are Kaalaghatangaliloode, Indian Swathanthra prasthaanam, Islahi prasthaanam, Swathanthra samara smarana, and Salafi prasthanam. He was honoured at a conference held at Allahabad in January 1985 for the Indian Freedom Fighters. He hoisted the national flag in the opening ceremony of the event.
