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{{for|the Pakistani cricketer|Mohammad Ismail (cricketer)}}
{{Short description|Indian politician (1896–1972)}}
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{pp-move-dispute|small=yes}}
{{similar names|Muhammad Ismail (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name               = M. Muhammad Ismail Rowther
| honorific_prefix = Quaid-e-Millat
| image               = M. Muhammad Ismail (Postage Stamp, Government of India).jpg
| name = M. Muhammad Ismail
| caption             = M. Muhammad Ismail sahib on a 1996 postage stamp of India
| image = M. Muhammad Ismail (Postage Stamp, Government of India).jpg
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1896|06|05|df=yes}}
| caption = M. Muhammad Ismail on a 1996 postage stamp of India
| birth_place        = [[Tirunelveli]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| office = Member of the [[Madras Legislative Assembly]]
| residence          =
| term_start = 1946
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1972|04|05|1896|06|05|df=yes}}
| term_end = 1952
| death_place        = [[Chennai|Madras]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| constituency =  
| office             = Member of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Madras State Legislative Assembly]]
| predecessor =  
| term_start         = 1946
| successor =  
| term_end           = 1952
| office2 = Member of the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Indian Constituent Assembly]]
| constituency       =
| term_start2 = 1948
| term                =  
| term_end2 = 1952
| predecessor         =  
| constituency2 = [[Madras Presidency|Madras]]
| successor           =  
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| office2             = Member of the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Indian Constituent Assembly]]
| term_start3 = 3 April 1952
| term_start2         = 1948
| term_end3 = 2 April 1958
| term_end2           = 1952
| constituency3 = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu|Madras]]
| office3             = Member of the [[Rajya Sabha]]
| office4 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start3         = 1952
| term_start4 = 1962
| term_end3           = 1958
| term_end4 = 5 April 1972
| office4             = Member of the [[Lok Sabha]]
| constituency4 = [[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]
| term_start4         = 1962
| birth_date = {{birth date|1896|06|05|df=yes}}
| term_end4           = 1972
| birth_place = [[Tirunelveli]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| constituency4       = [[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1972|04|05|1896|06|05|df=yes}}
| party               = * [[All-India Muslim League]] (till 1947)
| death_place = [[Chennai|Madras]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
* [[Indian Union Muslim League]] (after 1947)
| party = * [[All-India Muslim League]] (1930–1947)
| spouse             = Jamal Hameeda Bi
* [[Indian Union Muslim League]] (after 1948)
| children           = Jamal Miakhan (son)
| spouse = Jamal Hameeda Bi
| website             =  
| relations = [[K. T. M. Ahmed Ibrahim|K. T. M. Ahmed Ibrahim Sahib]] (brother)
| footnotes           =  
| children = Jamal Miakhan (son)
| website =  
| footnotes =  
}}
}}


'''M. Muhammad Ismail Rowther''' ({{lang-ta|முஹம்மது இஸ்மாயில், காயிதே மில்லத் }}; 5 June 1896—5 April 1972) was an Indian politician   and social worker from [[Tirunelveli]], southern [[Tamil Nadu]]. He is the founder of [[Indian Union Muslim League]] after the partition of [[British India]] (1947).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> He was popularly known in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]] as the "Quaid-e-Millat" ("the Leader of the Nation").<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Muthiah|first=S.|date=2017-05-01|title=Who was Quaid-E-Millat?|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/who-was-quaid-e-millat/article18347247.ece|access-date=2020-10-13|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
'''M. Muhammad Ismail''' (5 June 1896—5 April 1972) was an Indian politician and social worker from southern Indian state [[Tamil Nadu]]. He was a founder of the [[Indian Union Muslim League]] party after the partition of [[British India]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Wright |first=Theodore P. |date=1966 |title=The Muslim League in South India since Independence |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1952972 |journal=The American Political Science Review |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=582–583 |doi= 10.2307/1952972|jstor=1952972 |s2cid=143572105 |issn=|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He was popularly known in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]] as the "Quaid-e-Millat" ("the Leader of the Nation").<ref name=":45">{{Cite journal |last=Wright |first=Theodore P. |date=1966 |title=The Muslim League in South India since Independence |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1952972 |journal=The American Political Science Review |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=597 |doi= 10.2307/1952972|jstor=1952972 |s2cid=143572105 |issn=|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Ismail was a member of [[Madras Legislative Assembly]] and [[Leader of the Opposition]] (1946—52).<ref name=":1" /> He was also a member (1948—50) of the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]], the drafting body of the [[constitution of India]]. He was also a member of [[Rajya Sabha]] (1952—58) and [[Lok Sabha]] (3rd, 1962—67, 4th, 1967—70 and 5th, 1971—72).<ref name=":1" />  


Ismail was a member of Madras Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition (1946—52).<ref name=":1" /> He was also a member (1948—50) of the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]] (1946), the drafting body of the [[constitution of India]]. He was also a member of [[Rajya Sabha]] (1952—58) from [[Madras State|Madras]] and [[Lok Sabha]] (3rd, 1962—67, 4th, 1967—70 and 5th, 1971—72).<ref name=":1" />
==Early life and career==
M. Muhammad Ismail Rowther was born in [[Pettai, Tirunelveli|Pettai]], [[Tirunelveli]], in what is now the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], on 5 June 1896 to Maulavi K. T. Miakhan Rowther in a [[Tirunelveli]] [[Rowther]] family.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> He was educated at C. M. S. College and Hindu College at [[Tirunelveli]] and later at [[St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli|St. Joseph's College]], [[Trichy|Trichinopoly]] and [[Madras Christian College|Christian College, Madras]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=M. Muhammad Ismail (Fifth Lok Sabha Members. Profile) |url=http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1564.htm |website=Lok Sabha |publisher=Government of India}}</ref>


==Life and career==
Ismail started the 'Young Muslim Society' in his home town Tirunelveli [[Pettai, Tirunelveli|Pettai]] in 1909 ( as a 13-year-old).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Muthiah |first=S. |date=2017-05-01 |title=Who was Quaid-e-Millat? |language= |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/who-was-quaid-e-millat/article18347247.ece |access-date=2020-10-13 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He was also instrumental in establishing ''Majlis ul-Ulama'' ('the Council of Islamic Scholars') in 1918.<ref name=":1" /> He went into business in the 1920s and became a leader of Madras leather industry and eventually of [[Madras]] commerce.<ref name=":3" />
M. Muhammad Ismail was born in [[Pettai, Tirunelveli|Pettai]], [[Tirunelveli]], in what is now the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] on 5 June 1896 to Maulavi K. T. Miakhan [[Rowther]].<ref name=":1" /> He was educated at C. M. S. College and M. D. T. Hindu College at Tirunelveli and later at St. Joseph's College, [[Trichy|Trichinopoly]] and [[Madras Christian College|Christian College, Madras]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=M. Muhammad Ismail (Fifth Lok Sabha Members. Profile)|url=http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1564.htm|website=Lok Sabha}}</ref>


Ismail started the 'Young Muslim Society' in his home town Tirunelveli Petai in 1909 (as a 13-year-old).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> He was also instrumental in establishing 'Majlis-ul-Ulama' ('the Council of Islamic Scholars') in 1918.<ref name=":1" /> He went into business in the 1920s and became a leader of leather and meat industry and eventually of [[Madras]] commerce.<ref name=":3" />
Ismail married Jamal Hameeda Biwi in November 1923.<ref name=":1" /> Ismail's brother, [[K. T. M. Ahmed Ibrahim]], was also a principal leader of the [[All-India Muslim League]] in [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name=":02" /> Ismail served as Vice President, Muslim Educational Association of Southern India and Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam. He was also a founding member of the [[Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam]], Madras.<ref name=":1" />
 
Ismail married Jamal Hameeda Biwi in November 1923.<ref name=":1" /> Ismail's brother, K. T. M. Ahmed Ibrahim, was also a principal leader of the [[All-India Muslim League]] in [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name=":02" />  


==Political career==
==Political career==


=== With the All-India Muslim League ===
=== With the All-India Muslim League ===
Success in [[Madras]] commerce led Ismail into Indian politics.<ref name=":3" /> Along with [[K. M. Seethi Saheb]], [[B. Pocker]] and [[K. Uppi Saheb]], he was one of the principal leaders of [[All-India Muslim League]] in [[Madras Presidency]] from the mid-1930s.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last=Wright|first=Theodore P.|date=1966|title=The Muslim League in South India since Independence|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/muslim-league-in-south-india-since-independence-a-study-in-minority-group-political-strategies/2EBA3F25D373A0D9BA1DBAA6B9D25C30|journal=American Political Science Review|language=en|volume=60|issue=3|pages=579–599|doi=10.2307/1952972|issn=0003-0554|jstor=1952972}}</ref>
Success in [[Madras]] commerce led Ismail into Indian politics.<ref name=":3" /> Along with [[K. M. Seethi Saheb]], [[B. Pocker]] and [[K. Uppi Saheb]], he was one of the principal leaders of [[All-India Muslim League]] in [[Madras Presidency]] from the mid-1930s.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Wright |first=Theodore P. |date=1966 |title=The Muslim League in South India since Independence |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/muslim-league-in-south-india-since-independence-a-study-in-minority-group-political-strategies/2EBA3F25D373A0D9BA1DBAA6B9D25C30 |journal=American Political Science Review |language= |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=579–599 |doi=10.2307/1952972 |issn= |jstor=1952972|s2cid=143572105 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>


In 1945, he became the President of the [[Madras Presidency]] unit of the All-India Muslim League. His joint secretary is P. N. Abuthalib,
In 1945, he became the President of the [[Madras Presidency]] unit of the All-India Muslim League.<ref name=":1" /> In the elections to the Madras legislature, the League won all but ten of the reserved seats in 1936 and all in [[1946 Madras Presidency legislative assembly election|1946]].<ref name=":02" /> The League emerged as the second largest party in the Assembly after the 1946 elections and Ismail served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly during 1946–52.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="ralhan">{{Cite book|last=Ralhan|first=Om Prakash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6qEHg_7sWGQC&pg=PA1045|title=Encyclopaedia Of Political Parties|publisher=Anmol Publications|year=1998|isbn=978-81-7488-865-5|volume=33-50|pages=13}}</ref><ref name="dash">{{Cite book|last=Dash|first=Shreeram Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SoRaAAAAIAAJ&q=165|title=The Constitution of India: A Comparative Study|publisher=Chaitanya Publishing House|year=1968|page=532}}</ref><ref name="Saroja">{{Cite book|author=Sundararajan|first=Saroja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nr5HAAAAMAAJ|title=March to Freedom in Madras Presidency, 1916–1947|publisher=Lalitha Publications|year=1989|location=Madras|pages=623–636}}</ref>
<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Bhattacharjee|first=Rupanwita|date=2018-09-29|title=Muhammad Ismail, Indian Muslim League Pioneer who Wanted Hindustani as Official Language|url=https://theprint.in/forgotten-founders/muhammad-ismail-indian-muslim-league-pioneer-who-wanted-hindustani-as-official-language/122525/|website=The Print|language=en-US}}</ref> In the elections to the Madras legislature, the League won all but ten of the reserved seats in 1936 and all in [[1946 Madras Presidency legislative assembly election|1946]].<ref name=":02" /> The League emerged as the second largest party in the Assembly after the 1946 elections and Ismail served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly during 1946–52.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="ralhan">{{Cite book|last=Ralhan|first=Om Prakash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6qEHg_7sWGQC&pg=PA1045|title=Encyclopaedia Of Political Parties|publisher=Anmol Publications|year=1998|isbn=978-81-7488-865-5|volume=33-50|pages=13}}</ref><ref name="dash">{{Cite book|last=Dash|first=Shreeram Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SoRaAAAAIAAJ&q=165|title=The Constitution of India: A Comparative Study|publisher=Chaitanya Publishing House|year=1968|page=532}}</ref><ref name="Saroja">{{Cite book|author=Sundararajan|first=Saroja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nr5HAAAAMAAJ|title=March to Freedom in Madras Presidency, 1916–1947|publisher=Lalitha Publications|year=1989|location=Madras|pages=623–636}}</ref>


=== With the Indian Union Muslim League ===
=== With the Indian Union Muslim League ===
When [[Partition of India|British India was partitioned]] into India and [[Pakistan]], the [[All-India Muslim League]] was virtually disbanded (December, 1947).<ref name=":02" /> Ismail, the then President of the Madras Muslim League, was chosen as the Convener of the Indian segment of the League.<ref name=":02" /> The Indian members of the League formed the [[Indian Union Muslim League]] at Madras (first council in March, 1948 and constitution passed in September, 1951).<ref name=":02" /> Ismail was elected as the first President of Indian Union Muslim League.<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Indian_Union_Muslim_League_leadership_in_1954_(Calicut_Railway_Station).jpg|left|thumb|335x335px|Indian Union Muslim League leadership with Muhammad Ismail in 1954.]]
When [[Partition of India|British India was partitioned]] into India and [[Pakistan]], the [[All-India Muslim League]] was virtually disbanded (December, 1947).<ref name=":02" /> Ismail, the then President of the Madras Muslim League, was chosen as the Convener of the Indian segment of the League.<ref name=":02" /> The Indian members of the League formed the [[Indian Union Muslim League]] at Madras (first council in March, 1948 and constitution passed in September, 1951).<ref name=":02" /> Ismail was chosen as the first President of Indian Union Muslim League.<ref name=":1" />


After partition, Muslims lawmakers were still well represented in the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]], the drafting body of the [[constitution of India]] (almost all of these lawmakers had been elected on League tickets). Only those from [[Madras Presidency]] formally adhered to [[Indian Union Muslim League]] after August, 1947.<ref name=":02" />
After partition of India, Muslims were still well represented in the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]], the drafting body of the [[constitution of India]] (almost all of these lawmakers had been elected on League tickets). Only those from [[Madras Presidency]] formally adhered to the [[Indian Union Muslim League|League]].<ref name=":02" /> Ismail was elected from the Madras Legislative Assembly to the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]] in 1948.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="ralhan" /><ref name="dash" /><ref name="Saroja" /> When the report of the Advisory Committee on Minorities was debated (1949), Ismail moved a motion for the retention of reserved seats for Muslims and a separate communal electorate. The [[Constituent Assembly of India|Assembly]] summarily rejected this motion.<ref name=":02" /> Ismail Sahib wanted [[Tamil language|Tamil]] to be the Official Language of India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-05 |title=சிறப்பு கட்டுரை: காயிதே மில்லத் தமிழரா? |url=https://tamil.news18.com/news/special-articles/is-quaid-e-millat-a-tamilian-vin-476705.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=News18 Tamil |language=ta}}</ref>


Ismail was elected from the Madras Legislative Assembly to the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]] in 1948.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="ralhan" /><ref name="dash" /><ref name="Saroja" /> When the report of the Advisory Committee on Minorities was debated (1949), League President Ismail moved a motion for the retention of reserved seats for Muslims and a separate communal electorate. The [[Constituent Assembly of India|Assembly]] summarily rejected this motion.<ref name=":02" />
=== Attempts for an alliance ===
In the 1950s, Ismail started negotiating with the stubborn High Command in New Delhi (through the Madras leadership) for an electoral alliance with the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]].<ref name=":02" /> Some informal or local alliances with the Madras Congress were realized.<ref name=":02" /> The party thereupon suffered a rout in the 1957 General Elections and witnessed a major split in 1961 (instigated by Mohammed Raza Khan, M. S. A. Majeed and K. T. Sheriff).<ref name=":02" /> League in due course allied with [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] and [[Swatantra Party]].<ref name=":02" />


Ismail also wanted wanted both [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] among the Official Languages of India.<ref name=":2" />
In 1952, Ismail was elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]] from [[Madras State|Madras]] with support of the independent candidates endorsed by the League.<ref name=":3" />


=== In Parliament ===
=== As a Member of Parliament from Kerala ===
In the 1950s, Ismail started negotiating with the stubborn Congress High Command (through the Madras Congress leadership) for the coveted Congress recognition. Some informal alliances were made with the Madras Congress. However, talks with [[K. Kamaraj ]] broke down before the 1957 General Elections and the League suffered a debacle in Tamil Nadu. The party witnessed as a split in October, 1961. League now allied with the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].<ref name=":02" />  
When the state of [[Kerala]] was formed by the [[States Reorganisation Act]] in 1956, Ismail his constituency to northern Kerala. He was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri Parliamentary Constituency]] three times – in [[1962 Indian general election|1962]] (Third Lok Sabha), [[1967 Indian general election|1967]] (Fourth Lok Sabha) and [[1971 Indian general election|1971]] (Fifth Lok Sabha) as an [[Indian Union Muslim League]] candidate.<ref name=":1" />


In 1952, Ismail was elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]] from [[Madras State|Madras]] and remained a member till 1958.<ref name=":3" /> He was the first Member of Parliament (M.P) to request that part of his emolument as an M.P., be retained for National Defence Fund.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Quaid-e-Milleth Trust|url=http://www.quaidemillethtrust.com/|website=Quaid-e-Milleth Trust}}</ref> While in Rajya Sabha he supported the retaining of [[Sharia|Shari'ah Law]] for Indian Muslims.<ref name=":1" />
During the [[1962 India-China War]], Ismail famously offered to send his son Mian Khan to join the [[Indian Army]] to fight against [[China]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nair |first=Preetha |date=19 April 2019 |title=A Coloured Scheme Of Things |work=Outlook Magazine |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-a-coloured-scheme-of-things/301479}}</ref>


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 (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri Parliamentary Constituency]] three times – in [[1962 Indian general election|1962]] (Third Lok Sabha), [[1967 Indian general election|1967]] (Fourth Lok Sabha) and [[1971 Indian general election|1971]] (Fifth Lok Sabha) as an Indian Union Muslim League candidate.<ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+[http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/electionhistory.html General Elections]
|+[http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/electionhistory.html General Elections] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111050225/http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/electionhistory.html |date=11 November 2021 }}
!General Election
!General Election
!Constituency  
!Constituency  
!Winner
!Winner
!Party
!Runner up
!Runner up
!Margin
!Margin
Line 80: Line 81:
|1962 (Third)
|1962 (Third)
|[[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]  
|[[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]  
|M. MUHAMMAD ISMAIL SAHIB (the League)
|M. Muhammad Ismail
|MUHAMMAD KUNJU (CPI)
| rowspan="3" |[[Indian Union Muslim League]]
|Muhammed Kunju ([[Communist Party of India|CPI]])
|4,328
|4,328
|-
|-
|1967 (Fourth)  
|1967 (Fourth)  
|[[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]  
|[[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]  
|M. MUHAMMAD ISMAIL SAHIB (the League)
|M. Muhammad Ismail
|A. N. BEEVI (INC)
|A. N. Beevi ([[Indian National Congress|Congress]])
|107,494
|107,494
|-
|-
|1971 (Fifth)
|1971 (Fifth)
|[[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]  
|[[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]  
|M. MUHAMMAD ISMAIL SAHIB (the League)
|M. Muhammad Ismail
|S. P. MUHAMMED ALI (IND)
|S. P. Mumammed Ali (Ind.)
|119,837
|119,837
|}
|}


==Business career==
==Business career==
Ismail went into business in the 1920s and was involved in various commerce committees throughout his political career.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> He was a noted businessman of the [[Madras Presidency]] involved in leather and meat industry.<ref name=":2" />  
Ismail went into business in the 1920s and was involved in various commerce committees.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> He was a noted businessman of the [[Madras Presidency]] involved in leather and meat industry.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharjee |first=Rupanwita |date=2018-09-29 |title=Muhammad Ismail, Indian Muslim League Pioneer who Wanted Hindustani as Official Language |url=https://theprint.in/forgotten-founders/muhammad-ismail-indian-muslim-league-pioneer-who-wanted-hindustani-as-official-language/122525/ |website=The Print |language=}}</ref>


The boards and committees he was a member of include:
The boards and committees he was a member of include:
* Madras Port Trust Board, Board of Industries (Madras), Madras Provincial Marketing Board, Madras Excise Licensing Board, and South India Railway Advisory Committee.<ref name=":1" />
* Madras Port Trust Board, Madras Board of Industries, Madras Provincial Marketing Board, Madras Excise Licensing Board, and South India Railway Advisory Committee.<ref name=":1" />
* Industrial Planning Committee (Government of Madras), South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (once Vice-President of the Chamber), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Court of [[Aligarh Muslim University]].<ref name=":1" />
* Industrial Planning Committee (Government of Madras), [[Southern Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry|South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry]] (once Vice-President of the Chamber), [[Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry]], and Court of [[Aligarh Muslim University]].<ref name=":1" />
* Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Hides and Skins), Hides Cess Enquiry Committee, Mica Enquiry Committee, Chairman (Leather and Leather Goods Committee, Government of Madras), Honorary Secretary and Vice-President (Southern India Skin and Hide Merchants Association, Madras) and, President (Madras State Mutton Dealers Chamber).<ref name=":1" />
* Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Hides and Skins), Hides Cess Enquiry Committee, Mica Enquiry Committee, Chairman of Leather and Leather Goods Committee, Government of Madras, Honorary Secretary and Vice-President of Southern India Skin and Hide Merchants Association, Madras and President, Madras State Mutton Dealers Chamber.<ref name=":1" />


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
M. Muhammad Ismail died in 1972 (after a prolonged illness).<ref name="debate">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JVzVAAAAMAAJ&q=muhammad+ismail+|title=Lok Sabha Debates|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|year=1972|page=274}}</ref>  He was popularly known in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]] as the "Quaid-e-Millat" ("the Leader of the Nation"). <ref name=":3" /> [[Indian National Congress]] politician [[M. Bhaktavatsalam]], former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, paying his tribute, described Ismail as a "a model for all Opposition leaders".<ref name=":3" />
M. Muhammad Ismail died in 1972 (after a prolonged illness).<ref name="debate">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JVzVAAAAMAAJ&q=muhammad+ismail+|title=Lok Sabha Debates|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|year=1972|page=274}}</ref> [[Indian National Congress]] politician [[M. Bhaktavatsalam]], former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, paying his tribute, described Ismail as a "a model for all Opposition leaders".<ref name=":3" />


* The Tamil Nadu Government renamed [[Nagapattinam district]] as "Nagai Quaid-e-Millat" District in his honour (however, it reverted to its old name in 1997, when all names of persons were dropped from the names of districts and transport corporations).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Panneerselvan|first=A. S.|date=16 June 1997|title=Name Of The Game|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/name-of-the-game/203878|website=Outlook Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=DISCUSSION|url=https://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lsdeb/ls10/ses2/1904129101.htm|website=Parliament of India}}</ref>
* A number of colleges in Tamil Nadu including the [[Quaid-e-Millath Government College for Women]], Chennai<ref name=":3" /> and [[The Quaide Milleth College for Men|Quaid-e-Millat College, Medavakkam]], Chennai have been named after M. Muhammad Ismail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Madras: Aided Colleges |url=http://www.unom.ac.in/aided.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221030604/http://www.unom.ac.in/aided.html |archive-date=21 February 2006 |website=University of Madras}}</ref>
* The Tamil Nadu Government renamed [[Nagapattinam district|Nagapattinam District]] as "Nagai Quaid-e-Millat" District in M. Muhammad Ismail's honour (however, it reverted to its old name in 1997, when all names of individuals were dropped from the names of districts and transport corporations).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Panneerselvan|first=A. S.|date=16 June 1997|title=Name Of The Game|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/name-of-the-game/203878|website=Outlook Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=DISCUSSION|url=https://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lsdeb/ls10/ses2/1904129101.htm|website=Parliament of India}}</ref>
* In 2003, the Tamil Nadu Government constructed a memorial hall for M. Muhammad Ismail.
* In 2003, the Tamil Nadu Government constructed a memorial hall for M. Muhammad Ismail.
* A number of colleges in Tamil Nadu including the Quaid-e-Millat Government College for Women,<ref name=":3" /> Chennai and Quaid-e-Millat College, Medavakkam, Chennai have been named after M. Muhammad Ismail.<ref>{{Cite web|title=University of Madras: Aided Colleges|url=http://www.unom.ac.in/aided.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221030604/http://www.unom.ac.in/aided.html|archive-date=21 February 2006|website=University of Madras}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the Madras Legislative Assembly by term]]
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[[Category:Madras Christian College alumni]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:3rd Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1962–1967]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:4th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1967–1970]]
[[Category:5th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1971–1977]]
[[Category:People from Tirunelveli district]]
[[Category:People from Tirunelveli district]]
[[Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians]]
[[Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Kerala]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]]
[[Category:Tamil Muslims]]

Latest revision as of 19:54, 17 March 2026


Quaid-e-Millat
M. Muhammad Ismail
M. Muhammad Ismail on a 1996 postage stamp of India
Member of the Madras Legislative Assembly
In office
1946–1952
Member of the Indian Constituent Assembly
In office
1948–1952
ConstituencyMadras
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
3 April 1952 – 2 April 1958
ConstituencyMadras
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1962 – 5 April 1972
ConstituencyManjeri
Personal details
Born(1896-06-05)5 June 1896
Tirunelveli, Madras Presidency, British India
Died5 April 1972(1972-04-05) (aged 75)
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Political party
Spouse(s)Jamal Hameeda Bi
RelationsK. T. M. Ahmed Ibrahim Sahib (brother)
ChildrenJamal Miakhan (son)

M. Muhammad Ismail (5 June 1896—5 April 1972) was an Indian politician and social worker from southern Indian state Tamil Nadu. He was a founder of the Indian Union Muslim League party after the partition of British India.[1][2] He was popularly known in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as the "Quaid-e-Millat" ("the Leader of the Nation").[3] Ismail was a member of Madras Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition (1946—52).[1] He was also a member (1948—50) of the Constituent Assembly, the drafting body of the constitution of India. He was also a member of Rajya Sabha (1952—58) and Lok Sabha (3rd, 1962—67, 4th, 1967—70 and 5th, 1971—72).[1]

Early life and career[edit | edit source]

M. Muhammad Ismail Rowther was born in Pettai, Tirunelveli, in what is now the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on 5 June 1896 to Maulavi K. T. Miakhan Rowther in a Tirunelveli Rowther family.[1][4] He was educated at C. M. S. College and Hindu College at Tirunelveli and later at St. Joseph's College, Trichinopoly and Christian College, Madras.[1]

Ismail started the 'Young Muslim Society' in his home town Tirunelveli Pettai in 1909 ( as a 13-year-old).[1][4] He was also instrumental in establishing Majlis ul-Ulama ('the Council of Islamic Scholars') in 1918.[1] He went into business in the 1920s and became a leader of Madras leather industry and eventually of Madras commerce.[4]

Ismail married Jamal Hameeda Biwi in November 1923.[1] Ismail's brother, K. T. M. Ahmed Ibrahim, was also a principal leader of the All-India Muslim League in Madras Presidency.[5] Ismail served as Vice President, Muslim Educational Association of Southern India and Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam. He was also a founding member of the Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam, Madras.[1]

Political career[edit | edit source]

With the All-India Muslim League[edit | edit source]

Success in Madras commerce led Ismail into Indian politics.[4] Along with K. M. Seethi Saheb, B. Pocker and K. Uppi Saheb, he was one of the principal leaders of All-India Muslim League in Madras Presidency from the mid-1930s.[5]

In 1945, he became the President of the Madras Presidency unit of the All-India Muslim League.[1] In the elections to the Madras legislature, the League won all but ten of the reserved seats in 1936 and all in 1946.[5] The League emerged as the second largest party in the Assembly after the 1946 elections and Ismail served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly during 1946–52.[1][6][7][8]

With the Indian Union Muslim League[edit | edit source]

Indian Union Muslim League leadership with Muhammad Ismail in 1954.

When British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan, the All-India Muslim League was virtually disbanded (December, 1947).[5] Ismail, the then President of the Madras Muslim League, was chosen as the Convener of the Indian segment of the League.[5] The Indian members of the League formed the Indian Union Muslim League at Madras (first council in March, 1948 and constitution passed in September, 1951).[5] Ismail was chosen as the first President of Indian Union Muslim League.[1]

After partition of India, Muslims were still well represented in the Constituent Assembly, the drafting body of the constitution of India (almost all of these lawmakers had been elected on League tickets). Only those from Madras Presidency formally adhered to the League.[5] Ismail was elected from the Madras Legislative Assembly to the Constituent Assembly in 1948.[1][6][7][8] When the report of the Advisory Committee on Minorities was debated (1949), Ismail moved a motion for the retention of reserved seats for Muslims and a separate communal electorate. The Assembly summarily rejected this motion.[5] Ismail Sahib wanted Tamil to be the Official Language of India.[9]

Attempts for an alliance[edit | edit source]

In the 1950s, Ismail started negotiating with the stubborn High Command in New Delhi (through the Madras leadership) for an electoral alliance with the Congress.[5] Some informal or local alliances with the Madras Congress were realized.[5] The party thereupon suffered a rout in the 1957 General Elections and witnessed a major split in 1961 (instigated by Mohammed Raza Khan, M. S. A. Majeed and K. T. Sheriff).[5] League in due course allied with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Swatantra Party.[5]

In 1952, Ismail was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madras with support of the independent candidates endorsed by the League.[4]

As a Member of Parliament from Kerala[edit | edit source]

When the state of Kerala was formed by the States Reorganisation Act in 1956, Ismail his constituency to northern Kerala. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Manjeri Parliamentary Constituency three times – in 1962 (Third Lok Sabha), 1967 (Fourth Lok Sabha) and 1971 (Fifth Lok Sabha) as an Indian Union Muslim League candidate.[1]

During the 1962 India-China War, Ismail famously offered to send his son Mian Khan to join the Indian Army to fight against China.[10]

General Elections Archived 11 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine
General Election Constituency Winner Party Runner up Margin
1962 (Third) Manjeri M. Muhammad Ismail Indian Union Muslim League Muhammed Kunju (CPI) 4,328
1967 (Fourth) Manjeri M. Muhammad Ismail A. N. Beevi (Congress) 107,494
1971 (Fifth) Manjeri M. Muhammad Ismail S. P. Mumammed Ali (Ind.) 119,837

Business career[edit | edit source]

Ismail went into business in the 1920s and was involved in various commerce committees.[1][4] He was a noted businessman of the Madras Presidency involved in leather and meat industry.[11]

The boards and committees he was a member of include:

  • Madras Port Trust Board, Madras Board of Industries, Madras Provincial Marketing Board, Madras Excise Licensing Board, and South India Railway Advisory Committee.[1]
  • Industrial Planning Committee (Government of Madras), South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (once Vice-President of the Chamber), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Court of Aligarh Muslim University.[1]
  • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Hides and Skins), Hides Cess Enquiry Committee, Mica Enquiry Committee, Chairman of Leather and Leather Goods Committee, Government of Madras, Honorary Secretary and Vice-President of Southern India Skin and Hide Merchants Association, Madras and President, Madras State Mutton Dealers Chamber.[1]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

M. Muhammad Ismail died in 1972 (after a prolonged illness).[12] Indian National Congress politician M. Bhaktavatsalam, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, paying his tribute, described Ismail as a "a model for all Opposition leaders".[4]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 "M. Muhammad Ismail (Fifth Lok Sabha Members. Profile)". Lok Sabha. Government of India.
  2. Wright, Theodore P. (1966). "The Muslim League in South India since Independence". The American Political Science Review. 60 (3): 582–583. doi:10.2307/1952972. JSTOR 1952972. S2CID 143572105.
  3. Wright, Theodore P. (1966). "The Muslim League in South India since Independence". The American Political Science Review. 60 (3): 597. doi:10.2307/1952972. JSTOR 1952972. S2CID 143572105.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Muthiah, S. (1 May 2017). "Who was Quaid-e-Millat?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 Wright, Theodore P. (1966). "The Muslim League in South India since Independence". American Political Science Review. 60 (3): 579–599. doi:10.2307/1952972. JSTOR 1952972. S2CID 143572105.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Ralhan, Om Prakash (1998). Encyclopaedia Of Political Parties. Vol. 33–50. Anmol Publications. p. 13. ISBN 978-81-7488-865-5.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Dash, Shreeram Chandra (1968). The Constitution of India: A Comparative Study. Chaitanya Publishing House. p. 532.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sundararajan, Saroja (1989). March to Freedom in Madras Presidency, 1916–1947. Madras: Lalitha Publications. pp. 623–636.
  9. "சிறப்பு கட்டுரை: காயிதே மில்லத் தமிழரா?". News18 Tamil (in தமிழ்). 5 June 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  10. Nair, Preetha (19 April 2019). "A Coloured Scheme Of Things". Outlook Magazine.
  11. Bhattacharjee, Rupanwita (29 September 2018). "Muhammad Ismail, Indian Muslim League Pioneer who Wanted Hindustani as Official Language". The Print.
  12. Lok Sabha Debates. Lok Sabha Secretariat. 1972. p. 274.
  13. "University of Madras: Aided Colleges". University of Madras. Archived from the original on 21 February 2006.
  14. Panneerselvan, A. S. (16 June 1997). "Name Of The Game". Outlook Magazine.
  15. "DISCUSSION". Parliament of India.