Poonthran

Poonthran (/ˈpuːntræn/; Malayalam: പൂന്ത്രാൻ, pūntrān ^?) is a prominent Muslim family from the former Travancore - a princely state now called Kerala state, India.^[1] Its members have played a significant role in the history of Travancore since 19th century. The family had subscribed to the cultural heritage of the Travancore (Kerala) region and modern India at large, by contributing a long lineage of illustrious sons and daughters. Their genealogy starts with a prominent landlord Ahamed Kunju aka Thoppil Thampi, who came from the south-western part of Travancore and settled in Varkala.

The family's ascent to prominence began in the late 19th century, with the birth of Vakkom Moulavi, who was later acknowledged as the "father" of the Muslim socio-religious reform movements in Kerala.^[2] The Poonthran household was one of the few Muslim families in Travancore, who were highly regarded not only for their wealth, but also for their wisdom, prestige, and community service.^[3] They have contributed renaissance leaders, social reformers, freedom fighters, politicians, judges, writers, scholars, journalists and philosophers to the history of Travancore, Kerala and modern India.

History

The family traces its origins from the south of Travancore back to the time 18th century. It is believed that the early history of the Poonthran family goes back to 16th and 17th centuries, although it is unclear and there are lack of credible sources. The earliest known reference to the family was Ahmed Kunju (also known as Thoppil Thampi). He was born in a prominent family in Colachel. It is believed that his family was originally from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and that they migrated to Colachel sometime during the early 18th century. By late 18th century, he migrated to southern part of Travancore and settled in Vettoor, Varkala. Thampi was a wealthy landlord and a trader in Travancore region. In the early 19th century, Thampi expanded a strong trading sector in the southern Travancore. He then married Aamina Umma of Ayiroor Kayalpuram family. Ahmed Kunju and Aamina couple had three children: Two daughters and a son Mohamed Kunju Kayalpuram (father of Vakkom Moulavi). Mohamed Kunju married Aash Beevi and went to live in her ancestral home called Poonthran Vilakom, and because he moved and settled in Poonthran Vilakom, Mohamed Kunju later known as 'Poonthran'.

Vakkom Moulavi's maternal ancestors were from Hyderabad and Anjengo. His maternal grandfather Fateh Khan was a high ranking police officer in Travancore. Fateh Khan's family was originally from Hyderabad, Deccan. They migrated to Travancore when he received a job as an officer, thus, Moulavi's maternal ancestors were part of the colonial salariat class. Fateh Khan was married to the daughter of Kacheekaaran Saite from Anjengo. The couple had a son Mytheen Khan (also known as Dada Bhai) and a daughter Aash Beevi (mother of Vakkom Moulavi).

Notable members

• Ahmed Kunju aka Thoppil Thampi (circa. 1813–1879) was a prominent landlord and trader who came from the Colachel.
• Mohamed Kunju Sr. (circa. 1841–1890) was a wealthy landlord, prominent trader and influential leader.
• Vakkom Moulavi (1873–1932), one of the doyens of the Kerala's renaissance, social reformer, Muslim scholar, Educationist and the founder of Swadeshabhimani newspaper.^[4]
• Mohamed Kunju Jr. (circa. 1875–1940) was an Islamic scholar and writer. Born to Aliyar Kunju Poonthran Vilakom and Pathumma Kayalpuram, he was called respectfully as "Kaakka" (English: Big Brother) by everyone. Muhammed was the publisher of the cultural journal "Muslim" brought out by his brother-in-law Vakkom Moulavi. The 'Muslim' was the only Malayalam periodical, exclusively catering to the Muslim community upliftment during late 1800's to early 1910's. He started 'Khilafat Pathrika' magazine in the year 1920 and 'Al Manar' magazine in the year 1924 from Varkala. Both magazines gave useful contribution for the national movement and religious reform. He wrote the book named "Moulaviyum Musaliyarum Puthiya Velichathil".
• Abdul Aziz Musaliar aka Kochulla Musliar (circa. 1878–1940) was an Islamic scholar and thinker.
• P. Habeeb Mohamed (1898–1963) was an Indian lawyer and the first Muslim judge of the High Court of Travancore. Habeeb was born in 1899, in Vakkom, into an affluent Muslim family. He was the nephew of Vakkom Moulavi, a visionary, social reformer and journalist. Habeeb was the first of three children born to Pakeer Mytheen and Mohamed Pathumma. His brother, Mohamed Mytheen was an Islamic scholar and writer. His notable contribution while in service was his famous judgment on the Absabeevi's case while serving as District Judge of Alappuzha.^[5]
• P. Mohamed Mytheen (1899–1967), a Muslim scholar, writer and the first Malayalam translator of the Quaran.^[6] Born in 1899, Mytheen rose to eminence with his versatile knowledge in Arabic, Urdu, English, Sanskrit, Malayalam and Islamic History which he studied under his uncle Vakkom Moulavi. Though he became visually challenged while studying in Arts college, his quest for knowledge continued in diverse fields. He started writing in "The Light" published from Lahore in the 1920s. Mytheen's insightful articles and comments kept appearing in various magazines and journals such as Yuvakesari, Ansari, Chandrika etc. He was one of the first generation translators of the Quran in Malayalam, the final version of which came out in 2009 (published by the University of Kerala) after 42 years of his death. He also wrote several articles, books and sketches on Islam, Hadis, Prophet Mohammed, Arabic Grammar etc.
• A. M. Abdul Cadir aka Afandī, was an Islamic scholar, thinker and writer. He was born to Muslim scholar Abdul Aziz Musliar (Kochulla) and Pathumma. Abdul Khader went for higher studies to Al-Azhar University (Jāmiʻat al-Azhar, Cairo, Egypt, the oldest and the most prestigious Islamic university in the world) in the early 20th century. Later, Cadir became a professor of Arabic at Mohammedan College, Madras. He was a master in several topics and wrote many books including "Glimpses of Holy Quran" (Malayalam: "Islamile Suvarna Lighithangal").^[7]
• M. Abdul Salam (circa. 1904–1934) was a writer and thinker of Islamic studies. Born in the early 1900s, Salam was the first child of Vakkom Moulavi and Haleema. When Molavi founded the Islamia Publishing House, Salam was directing the translation into Malayalam and publication of Allāmah Šiblī Noʿmānī's biography of Umar ibn Al-Khattāb in two volumes under the title Al-Faruq.
• M. Abdul Vahab (circa. 1906–1948) was a writer and thinker of Islamic studies. Born into an influential family in Travancore, Vahab was the second child of Vakkom Moulavi and Aamina Ummal. Raised in an intellectual milieu, he became a staunch supporter of his father's socio-religious activities. He was an Arabic teacher and taught at various government schools for several years. He wrote several articles on Islam and the Quran. Vahab was a correspondent of The Deccan Times, under the pen name 'Shaheed'. His major work, along with his cousin Mohamed Abda, "Islam Charithrathile Suvarna Sambhavangal" (Malayalam: ഇസ്ലാം ചരിത്രത്തിലെ സുവർണ്ണ സംഭവങ്ങൾ, English: Glorious Events from Islamic History) was published in the 1950s. The book was simultaneously factual, serious and historical. According to Vahab, the book was intended to enlighten it's readers through noteworthy incidents from Islamic history.^[8]
• Vakkom Majeed (born S. Abdul Majeed) (1909–2000), was an Indian freedom fighter, politician and a member of the former Travancore-Cochin State Assembly. Influenced by the works of his uncle, Vakkom Moulavi, he became involved in social and political reform movements. Majeed was one of the early architects of the Indian National Congress in Travancore, eventually becoming the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Attingal constituency (1948–1952). Regarded as one of the great Indian nationalists of 20th century, Majeed belonged to a tradition of politics that was intrinsically value-based, secular and humanistic.
• M. A. Shakoor (1911–2004), an Indian born Pakistani journalist who worked as the senior most Assistant Editor of Dawn and the London Correspondent of the Pakistan Times.^[9]
• Abdul Khadar Jr (1912–1976) was a writer, literary critic and thinker.^[10] Khader was born on May 2, 1912 in Vakkom, Travancore. He was the third child of Vakkom Moulavi and Aamina Ummal. Born into a prominent Muslim family and raised in an intellectual milieu, Khader followed his father's literary-journalist tradition and published more than 20 books including Thoolika Chithrangal, Vichara Vedhi and Purogathiyum Sahithya Kalakalum. He worked for many newspapers including Muhammad Abdur Rahiman's Al Ameen, Prabhatham, Mappila Review and Bharatha Chandrika. He also started few monthly periodicals such as Prathidhwani and Subodhini.^[11]
• Mohamed Abda (1914–1992), a writer, thinker and educationist.^[12] Abda was the second of four children born to Syed Mohamed and Mohamed Beevi (Sister of Vakkom Moulavi). Raised in a highly intellectual milieu, Abda followed his uncle's literary-educational reform tradition and published several books including "Selected works of Vakkom Moulavi" and "Islam Charithrathile Suvarna Sambhavangal".
• Dr. Rahma Mohammed Kunju (1926-2017) was the first muslim lady from Kerala to be a medical doctor and the first to pursue education outside the country.^[13] Born to Islamic scholar and writer Vakkom Mohammed Kunju Moulavi and Mariam beevi (Niece of Vakkom Moulavi), Rahma had her education in different places in Kerala, Aligarh, Karachi and London. She took her MBBS from the Karachi Medical College before partition and did advanced courses in medicine in London. Rahma had served the medical services in Singapore and Malaysia for several decades that included her stint as a medical officer in the University of Kuala Lumpur. She was honoured by former Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammed, for her selfless service in the south-east Asian country. Her brother MA Shakoor was a veteran journalist and the former London correspondent of Pakistan Times and senior editor of the Dawn.
• Mohammed Eeza (1929–1999) was a south Indian scholar, writer and thinker of Islamic studies. Born in 1929, Eeza was the ninth child of Vakkom Moulavi and Aamina Ummal. He was only three when his father died and he had to learn by himself the value and significance of the mission his father had undertaken. Eeza had his early education and went to Madras for higher studies and it was there that he came into contact with modern trends in Islam, philosophy and politics. Later, Eeza had developed an interest in Marxism and worked with the KSP and RSP for a while. Soon he decided to eschew party politics and returned to the intellectual domain where he took to writing, offering new insights into politics, literature, philosophy and religion. Eeza was one of the founding architects of the Vakkom Moulavi Foundation and was the manager of the Foundation until he died in 1999.
• Mohammed Javad (1935–1990), a writer, thinker and social activist.
• Dr. Hisham Abdul Khader (1957–2014) was a renowned academician, writer and an internationally reputed phytochemist.^[14] Hisham was born in 1957 into a prominent Muslim family Poonthran. He was the second child of Abdul Khader and Nafeesa Beevi. His father Abdul Khader Jr. was a writing master, literary critic and journalist. His grandfather Vakkom Moulavi was an Islamic renaissance leader, social reformer, scholar and journalist. Hisham started his research and academic career in 1982 as a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, Government Victoria College, Palakkad. By late 1980s, he proceeded to University of Antwerp, Belgium and obtained his doctoral degree in 1990 based on his dissertation entitled " Phytochemical Investigations on Uvaria narum and Elephantopus scaber. Subsequently, he continued his academic appointment in Kerala and later at the Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. During his career as a phytochemist, he had identified and characterized several new molecules from plants, had published more than 60 research papers in high impact journals. His major contribution was in the phytochemistry of Annonaceae plants, particularly in the chemistry of Acetogenins. Hisham also continued the literary tradition of his paternal ancestors and he had been a contributor to popular magazines and newspapers.^[15]

References

External links

• http://vmmrcblogspotcom.blogspot.com