Seethi Sahib
Encyclopedia
K. M. Seethi Sahib was a Speaker
of the Kerala Legislative Assembly and a social reform leader of the Mappila
s of Kerala
, India
. His role in the upliftment of the Mappila community in post-Independent India was so significant that he's sometimes referred to as the "Chief Architect of the Mappila revival" in Kerala. He was also sometimes referred to as "Seethi Sahib Bahadur", the suffix being an honorary title conferred upon by the British in pre-Independent India.
in 1917, topping his batch. He pursued his further education to attain the B.A.
and B.L. degrees. After graduating in law, he enrolled as an Advocate in Madras High Court
in 1927. He went on to become a successful lawyer, practicing at Ernakulam
and Tellicherry.
He joined politics as a student, taking part in the Non-Cooperation Movement
in 1921. His mentor was Vakkom Moulavi
, a pioneering social worker and freedom activist from Travancore. Maulavi's thoughts and writings in his periodical Muslim played an important role in defining his religious beliefs and ideology.
In 1928, Seethi was elected to the Cochin Legislative Assembly and attended the historic 1930 Lahore Congress session
representing the people of Kerala. A year later, he was re-elected to the Cochin Legislative Assembly. But conflicting communal perceptions within the Congress led to his departure from the organization in 1933. By 1934, he had become active in the Muslim League In 1946, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly
from the Malappuram
Constituency , a victory he repeated in 1952.
Constituency. He was elected as the Speaker
of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on February 22, 1960 in the Pattom Thanupillai ministry. Two years later, on April 17, 1961 while in office as the Speaker, he breathed his last..
newspaper in 1934 and influenced a wide range of other individuals who struggled for the Mappila
community revival. They included figures such as KK Muhammad Shafi, the first editor of the newspaper Chandrika, C.P. Mammu Keyi, its first managing director and B. Poker Sahib (1890-1965) etc. He was a founding member of the Farook College at Calicut, a landmark institution in the renaissance of Muslims in the Malabar
.
is named after him. In August 1992, the Department of Cultural Publications, Government of Kerala published his biography titled "Seethi Sahib", authored by T. M. Savankutty.
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Kerala Legislative Assembly and a social reform leader of the Mappila
Mappila
Mappila or Moplah refers to a Muslim community of Kerala, primarily in the northern region called Malabar, which arose in Malabar as a result of the pre and post Islamic Arab contacts. Significant numbers of the community are also present in the southern districts of Karnataka and western parts of...
s 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....
, India
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...
. His role in the upliftment of the Mappila community in post-Independent India was so significant that he's sometimes referred to as the "Chief Architect of the Mappila revival" in Kerala. He was also sometimes referred to as "Seethi Sahib Bahadur", the suffix being an honorary title conferred upon by the British in pre-Independent India.
Early years
K.M Seethi was born in 1899 as the son of Haji Seethi Mohammed and A.K. Fatima Beevi in an affluent family in Kodungaloor. He did his schooling at Kodungaloor High school and completed the Inter Mediate Course from Ernakulam Maharajas CollegeMaharajas College
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala, India. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of on the banks of Vembanad Lake...
in 1917, topping his batch. He pursued his further education to attain the B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and B.L. degrees. After graduating in law, he enrolled as an Advocate in Madras High Court
Madras High Court
The Madras High Court is a senior court located at Chennai , in India. The court buildings, which are believed to be the second largest judicial complex in the world, are located near the beach, in one of the city's major business districts....
in 1927. He went on to become a successful lawyer, practicing at Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
and Tellicherry.
He joined politics as a student, taking part in the Non-Cooperation Movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
in 1921. His mentor was Vakkom Moulavi
Vakkom Moulavi
Vakkom Muhammed Abdul Khadir Moulavi, popularly known as Vakkom Moulavi was a social reformer, teacher, prolific writer, Muslim scholar, journalist, freedom fighter and newspaper proprietor in Travancore, a princely state of the present day Kerala, India...
, a pioneering social worker and freedom activist from Travancore. Maulavi's thoughts and writings in his periodical Muslim played an important role in defining his religious beliefs and ideology.
In 1928, Seethi was elected to the Cochin Legislative Assembly and attended the historic 1930 Lahore Congress session
Purna Swaraj
The Purna Swaraj declaration, or Declaration of the Independence of India was promulgated by the Indian National Congress on January 26, 1930, resolving the Congress and Indian nationalists to fight for Purna Swaraj, or complete self-rule independent of the British Empire...
representing the people of Kerala. A year later, he was re-elected to the Cochin Legislative Assembly. But conflicting communal perceptions within the Congress led to his departure from the organization in 1933. By 1934, he had become active in the Muslim League In 1946, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly
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...
from the Malappuram
Malappuram
Malappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
Constituency , a victory he repeated in 1952.
Independent India
After the State of Kerala was formed, he won the 1960 elections to represent the KuttippuramKuttippuram
Kuttippuram is a town and is situated in the Malappuram district of Kerala state, India. The Bharathappuzha river flows through Kuttippuram. Kuttippuram railway station is an important railway station in Malappuram district...
Constituency. He was elected as the Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on February 22, 1960 in the Pattom Thanupillai ministry. Two years later, on April 17, 1961 while in office as the Speaker, he breathed his last..
Influence
Seethi Sahib was an eminent lawyer, statesman, writer and a gifted orator. He was a founder member of the ChandrikaChandrika
This article is about a Malayalam newspaper. For the soap brand, see Chandrika .Chandrika is a Malayalam newspaper run by the Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala. It is published from Kozhikode and was the first attempt to have a newspaper from Malabar Muslims to support the political party...
newspaper in 1934 and influenced a wide range of other individuals who struggled for the Mappila
Mappila
Mappila or Moplah refers to a Muslim community of Kerala, primarily in the northern region called Malabar, which arose in Malabar as a result of the pre and post Islamic Arab contacts. Significant numbers of the community are also present in the southern districts of Karnataka and western parts of...
community revival. They included figures such as KK Muhammad Shafi, the first editor of the newspaper Chandrika, C.P. Mammu Keyi, its first managing director and B. Poker Sahib (1890-1965) etc. He was a founding member of the Farook College at Calicut, a landmark institution in the renaissance of Muslims in the Malabar
Malabar District
Malabar District was an administrative district of Madras Presidency in British India and independent India's Madras State. The British district included the present-day districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad , and Chavakad Taluk of Thrissur District in the northern part of...
.
Legacy
The Seethi Sahib Memorial Polytechnic CollegeSeethi Sahib Memorial Polytechnic College
Seethi Sahib Memorial Polytechnic College is an Indian institute of technology located in the Tirur area of the Malappuram District....
is named after him. In August 1992, the Department of Cultural Publications, Government of Kerala published his biography titled "Seethi Sahib", authored by T. M. Savankutty.