C. H. Mohammed Koya

C. H. Mohammed Koya
8th Chief Minister of Kerala
In office
12 October 1979 – 1 December 1979
Preceded by P. K. Vasudevan Nair
Succeeded by E. K. Nayanar
Constituency Tanur
Personal details
Born (1927-07-15)15 July 1927
Atholi, Madras Presidency, British India
Died 28 September 1983(1983-09-28) (aged 56)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Political party Indian Union Muslim League
Spouse(s) Amina Koya
Children 2 daughters and a son (Dr. M. K. Muneer)
As of 2 November, 2007
Source: Govt. of Kerala

C.H. Mohammed Koya (15 July 1927 – 28 September 1983) was an Indian politician who served as the tenth Chief Minister of Kerala from 12 October to 1 December 1979. He was the leader of the Indian Union Muslim League.

Political career

He experienced his first taste of politics right from his high school. He was actively involved with the IUML. In his early years, he served a short term in the Kurumpranad District Muslim League committee and later in the Municipal Office in Calicut.

In 1951, he was elected to the National Executive of the IUML and shortly afterwards, was elected the Councilor of Calicut Municipality. C.H.Mohammed Koya defeated K.P.Kuttikrishnan Nair (Kuttiettan – as he was popularly known) of the Indian National Congress. The latter had earlier defeated two of the most popular politicians in Kerala, E.M.S. Namboodiripad and Seethi Sahib earning him the nickname the Giant-Killer from Jawaharlal Nehru. Kuttiettan and his best friend C.K.Govindan Nair (CKG) were the Congress leaders who had even outrightly rejected Nehru's mandates regarding candidature in Kerala, openly holding that as the State Congress Committee leaders, they knew whom to field and they do not need advice from the AICC (the High Command).

His chief mentor, both in his personal life and political career was Syed Abdur Rahman Bafaqi Thangal, to whom he was indebted for all his achievements.

Mohammed Koya was elected into the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Tanur constituency in 1957 and again in 1960. On 9 June 1961 he became the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly after the sudden demise of K.M.Seethi Sahib. Despite being one of the youngest members in the Assembly, he was known for his charisma and the flair with which he discharged his duties.

When Muslim league quit the political alliance at State level, Mohammed Koya resigned Speakership and contested the ensuing Parliamentary Poll successfully from the Calicut constituency . Again, in the State Assembly elections held in 1967, he won by a vast majority, contesting from Mankada constituency. He was the Education Minister in the cabinet headed by Shri E.M.S. Namboodiripad. He continued to retain his Education portfolio in succeeding ministries headed by C. Achutha Menon, K. Karunakaran, A.K. Antony till the Ninth ministry headed by P.K. Vasudevan Nair. As Education minister he was instrumental in formulating many plans that has helped Kerala reach the forefront in the education sector in India.

On 12 October 1979 C.H.Mohammed Koya became the Chief Minister of Kerala and his term continued to 1 December 1979. He was the shortest serving Chief Minister of Kerala. He was the Deputy Chief Minister in the next United Democratic Front(UDF) ministry headed by K.Karunakaran. Continuing in the seat even after the ministry was re-constituted in 1982, after the General Election, Shri. Koya stayed there till his untimely demise in the ensuing year.

Koya died on 28 September 1983 at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad due to a massive cerebral haemorrhage. He reached Hyderabad for attending a public function, and stayed in the veteran actor-cum-then Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao's home. Despite being a heavy diabetic, he consumed high amount of payasam, and thus it led to the massive haemorrhage which finally killed him. His dead body was taken back to Kerala, and was buried with full state honours. He was then survived by his mother, wife, and three children – two daughters and one son (M. K. Muneer). Now, only the children are left.

The C H Mohammed Koya Library in the campus of the University of Calicut
Muneer, son of C.H.Muhammed koya

Legacy

  • The C H Mohammed Koya Library in the campus of the University of Calicut and the Haji C.H. Mohamed Koya College for Advanced Studies under the University of Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram are named in his honour.[1]
  • The C H Mohammed Koya Memorial National Journalism award, jointly instituted by the C H Mohammed Koya Trust and The Calicut Press Club is also instituted in his honour.[2]
  • Dr. M. K. Muneer, son of C.H.Mohammed Koya is a leading Kerala politician from Indian Muslim League.He is currently a member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Kozhikode South constituency.

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  2. ↑ http://travelandtourism.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=25665%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D Burkha Dutt, Noorani given C H Mohammed Koya journalism award – Mathrubhumi 4 Nov 2009
Preceded by
P.K. Vasudevan Nair		 Chief Minister of Kerala
1979– 1979		 Succeeded by
E.K. Nayanar
Preceded by
Seethi Sahib		 Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly
1961– 1961		 Succeeded by
Alexander Parambithara
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