Abdurrahiman Bafaqi Thangal (1905—1973) was an Indian community leader and politician from Kerala.[1][2] Until his death in the early 1970s, Bafaqi Thangal remained the most prominent Muslim political leader in Kerala.[2][3] He is generally credited with transforming the perception of Indian Union Muslim League inside Kerala.[4]
Abdurrahiman Bafaqi Thangal | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 19 January 1973 | (aged 66)
Nationality | Indian |
Occupations |
|
Website | bafakhythangaltrust |
Signature | |
Abdurrahiman Bafaqi Thangal belonged to a sayyid family of jurists (the "Ba Faqih") in north Kerala.[5][6] The Yemeni-origin family was settled in Kerala in the early 18th century.[6][5] The Bafaqi Thangals were also a prominent business family of the city of Calicut (by being international rice dealers).[3]
Bafaqi Thangal was born to Abdul Qadir Bafaqi Thangal and Fathima Mulla Beevi on 19 February 1906 at Koyilandy.[5] After the studies at Ponnani, he moved to the lucrative export business at Calicut, became a powerful Calicut businessman and eventually established the Bafaqi and Company at Yangon, Myanmar.[5][3]
Bafaqi Thangal entered active politics in 1936 as a campaigner against an All-India Muslim League candidate from Kozhikode-Kurumbranad Constituency.[5] He subsequently joined the League (1938), and rapidly rose to become the President of the Malabar Muslim League.[5] He also helped to persuade Panakkad Pukkoya Thangal, a sayyid community leader from South Malabar, to join the League.[5] When Kerala State was formed in 1956, he was chosen as the President of the Kerala State Muslim League.[5][1]
Bafaqi Thangal also served as the leader of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyat al-Ulama.[5] He is remembered for his organisation of the sector of madarasa education (institutions where children receive basic Islamic education) in Kerala.[3]
Bafaqi Thangal is generally credited for
Bafaqi Thangal died in 1973 (while on the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca) and was interred in Mecca.[5]
Bafaqi Thangal had married five times.[7]