Muhammad Ismail
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Ismail (1896–1972) was an India
n politician belonging to the Indian Union Muslim League
. He was a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and a member of the Indian Parliament - both Rajya Sabha
and Lok Sabha
. He was also a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly
which framed the Indian Constitution
. He is popularly known in his native states of Tamil Nadu
and Kerala
by the title "Quaid-e-Millat" (Leader of the Nation).
, Tamil Nadu
on 5 June 1896 to Moulvi
K. T. Miakhan Rowther
. He obtained his education from CMS College and MDT Hindu College at Tirunelveli and later at St. Joseph's College, Trichy and Madras Christian College
. He married Jamal Hameeda Bi in November 1923. He became a business man and was involved in various commerce committees throughout his political career.
unit of the Muslim league. He led the Madras State Muslim League in the 1946 Assembly elections
, when the league won 28 seats (all the seats reserved for Muslims in the Presidency). The league emerged as the second largest party in the assembly after the Indian National Congress
. Ismail became the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly during 1946-52. When the provincial assemblies elected members to serve in the Indian Constituent Assembly
which also doubled as the first Parliament of independent India, Ismail was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Madras Presidency.
When India was partitioned
and Pakistan
was born in August 1947, the Muslim League also split into Indian and Pakistani sections. The Indian members of the League who did not migrate to Pakistan, formed the Indian Union Muslim League
(IUML). Ismail became its first president. In 1952, he was elected to the Upper house
of the Indian Parliament - the Rajya Sabha
and remained a member till 1958. While in Rajya Sabha he supported the retaining of Sharia
law for Indian Muslims. When the state of Kerala
was formed by the States Reorganisation Act
in 1956, Ismail shifted to Kerala politics. He was elected to the Lok Sabha
from Manjeri Parliamentary Constituency
three times - in 1962
, 67
and 71
as a IUML candidate.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician belonging to the Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
. He was a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and a member of the Indian Parliament - both Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
and Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
. He was also a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and following independence served as the nation's first Parliament.-Nature of the Assembly:...
which framed the Indian Constitution
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
. He is popularly known in his native states of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
by the title "Quaid-e-Millat" (Leader of the Nation).
Early life
Muhammad Ismail was born in TirunelveliTirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
on 5 June 1896 to Moulvi
Mawlawi (Islamic title)
Mawlawi is an honorific Islamic religious title given to Sunni Muslim religious scholars or Ulema preceding their names, similar to the titles Maulana, Mullah, or Shaykh. Mawlawi generally means highly-qualified Islamic scholar...
K. T. Miakhan Rowther
Rowther
Rowther or Ravuthar or Rawthar or Rawther is a distinctive Islamic community from the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Together with the Kayalar, Lebbai and Maraikayar communities, they constitute the multi-ethnic Tamil Muslim, an Islamic community spread across South India and South East...
. He obtained his education from CMS College and MDT Hindu College at Tirunelveli and later at St. Joseph's College, Trichy and Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
. He married Jamal Hameeda Bi in November 1923. He became a business man and was involved in various commerce committees throughout his political career.
Political career
Muhammad Ismail started the Young Muslim Society in Tirunelveli Petai in 1909. He was instrumental in establishing Majlis-ul-Ulama (Council of Islamic Scholars) in 1918. He became a member of the Muslim league rose through its ranks. In 1945, he became the president of the Madras PresidencyMadras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
unit of the Muslim league. He led the Madras State Muslim League in the 1946 Assembly elections
Madras Presidency legislative assembly election, 1946
The second legislative assembly election for the Madras Presidency after the establishment of a bicameral legislature by the Government of India Act of 1935 was held in 1946. The election was held after 6 years of Governor's rule starting from 1939, when the Indian National Congress government of...
, when the league won 28 seats (all the seats reserved for Muslims in the Presidency). The league emerged as the second largest party in the assembly after the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. Ismail became the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly during 1946-52. When the provincial assemblies elected members to serve in the Indian Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and following independence served as the nation's first Parliament.-Nature of the Assembly:...
which also doubled as the first Parliament of independent India, Ismail was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Madras Presidency.
When India was partitioned
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
was born in August 1947, the Muslim League also split into Indian and Pakistani sections. The Indian members of the League who did not migrate to Pakistan, formed the Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
(IUML). Ismail became its first president. In 1952, he was elected to the Upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of the Indian Parliament - the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
and remained a member till 1958. While in Rajya Sabha he supported the retaining of Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
law for Indian Muslims. When the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
was formed by the States Reorganisation Act
States Reorganisation Act
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries and governance of India's states and territories. The act reorganised the boundaries of India's states along linguistic lines, and amended the Indian Constitution to replace the three types of states, known as Parts A, B,...
in 1956, Ismail shifted to Kerala politics. He was elected to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
from Manjeri Parliamentary Constituency
Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)
Manjeri was a Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala.Recently Manjeri Constituency changed and now it is a part of Malappuram Loksabha Constituency.-Assembly segments:Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:...
three times - in 1962
Indian general election, 1962
India held general elections to the 3rd Lok Sabha. Jawaharlal Nehru had led the Congress to a resounding victory in the 1962 elections with a majority win. During his tenure the Congress leader had also envisaged a new look for the country in the areas of development and growth...
, 67
Indian general election, 1967
India held general elections to the 4th Lok Sabha. The country had its fourth outing at the hustings since Independence in August 1947. This fourth general elections, which were conducted for 520 seats from 520 constituencies, represented 27 Indian states and union territories...
and 71
Indian general election, 1971
India held general elections to the 5th Lok Sabha. This fifth general elections, which were conducted for 518 seats from 518 constituencies, represented 27 Indian states and union territories. Indira Gandhi steered the Congress to a landslide victory in 1971...
as a IUML candidate.