"Explore the rich tapestry of the Malabar region, where centuries of history, culture, and tradition come together.
University of Calicut,
Edapally - Panvel Hwy, Thenhipalam,
Kerala 673635, India
A political leader and social critic, Mohammad Abdur Rahman (1898-1945) was also a prominent freedom fighter. He was the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee in 1939 and an active participant in the Khilafat movement. He also organized tenant farmers along with leaders, MP Narayana Menon and Kattilasseri Muhammed Musaliyar.
Mohammad Abdu Rahman was born to Abdurahman and Kochu Ayishumma in 1898. He was born in Azhikode of the Kingdom of Cochin (present-day Thrissur district), Kerala in British India. After his primary education in Azhikode, he studied at Kodungalloor High School. He also studied at Madrasa Islamiyya in Vaniyambadi. He completed BA honors from Presidency College, Madras. In pursuit of further education, he moved to Aligarh Muslim University. Khilafat Movement was growing intensely in northern India at that time. Influenced by those ideas, he discontinued his education at Aligarh to actively participate in the movement. In 1926, he married Kunji Beevathu, who died after a year. He died in 1945 at the age of 45 while returning after his speech at a conference of Muslim majlis held in Kodiyathur on 22 November.
Anti-British Struggle
After discontinuing his education at Aligarh, Moulana Shoukath Ali asked Muhammad Abdur Rahman to lead the people of Malabar in the Khilafat movement. As a part of it, he reached Malabar at the time of the Conference of the Congress party held in Ottapalam. Further, he moved to Kozhikode with Moidu Moulavi and organized Congress-Khilafat committees. He was elected as the secretary of the Khilafat committee of Malabar district. Kattilasseri Muhammad Musliyar was elected as the President of the same committee. He also started Mamburam restoration committee to bring back the children of Mamburam Fazal Pookkoya Thangal who was exiled by the British in 1852.
Muhammad Abdu Rahman was arrested for the first time for writing an article in the Hindu magazine criticizing the British army. The Britishers arrested him as per the Marshall law on 12 October 1921. He was imprisoned for 2 years in Bellary prison. During his prison days, he developed the idea to publish a newspaper. On 12 October 1924, his newspaper ‘Al Ameen’ started its first publication from Kozhikode. The newspaper supplied the common people with political information and ideas primarily about the anti-British movement across India. It published articles calling the mass towards participating in the Salt Satyagraha. It published an article titled ‘Jihadul Akbar’ which infuriated the British. The newspaper was banned for 6 months as a result.
On 27 April 1930, he led a large group of people towards Kozhikode Beach as part of Salt Satyagraha against the British. Abdurahman sahib was arrested and the people were attacked by the police. He was imprisoned for seven months and was released on 20 December 1930.
He also spoke against the Mappila Outrageous Act and educated people against the Britishers. In 1937, he was elected as a candidate from the Congress party to the Madras legislative assembly. He also served from the Congress party in the following posts- Municipal Councillor, District Board Member, and President of Teachers Union.
In 1940, an organization named ‘Forward Block’ was formed under the leadership of Subash Chandra Bose. Muhammad Abdurahman was elected as the president of the Kerala division of the organization. Due to its anti-British ideas, it was banned by the British and its leaders were imprisoned. Abdur Rahman was also jailed as a result. After 5 years of imprisonment, he was released on 5 September 1945.
In 1998, the Department of Posts and Telegraph released a stamp in honour of his memory. He was also named after The Mohammed Abdurahman Memorial Orphanage College and the Indianness Mohammed Abdurahman Sahib Academy of Kozhikode district of Kerala.
