C. H. Mohammed Koya: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}{{Infobox officeholder
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = C. H. Mohammad Koya
| name                = C. H. Mohammad Koya
| image              = File:C H Mohammed Koya (1979).jpg
| image              = Indian Union Muslim League leader C. H. Mohammed Koya.jpg
| office              = 2nd [[List of deputy chief ministers of Kerala|Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala]]
| office              = 2nd [[List of deputy chief ministers of Kerala|Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala]]
| 1blankname          = Chief Minister  
| 1blankname          = Chief Minister
| 1namedata          = [[K. Karunakaran]]
| 1namedata          = [[K. Karunakaran]]
| term_start          = 24 May 1982
| term_start          = 24 May 1982
Line 11: Line 12:
| predecessor        = ''Office Vacant''
| predecessor        = ''Office Vacant''
| successor          = [[K. Avukader Kutty Naha]]
| successor          = [[K. Avukader Kutty Naha]]
| 1blankname1        = Chief Minister  
| 1blankname1        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1          = K. Karunakaran
| 1namedata1          = K. Karunakaran
| term_start1        = 28 December 1981
| term_start1        = 28 December 1981
| term_end1          = 17 March 1982
| term_end1          = 17 March 1982
| successor1          = ''Office Vacant''
| successor1          = ''Office Vacant''
| predecessor1        = [[R. Sankar]]  
| predecessor1        = [[R. Sankar]]
| order2              = 8th
| order2              = 8th
| office2            = Chief Minister of Kerala
| office2            = Chief Minister of Kerala
| governor2          = [[Jothi Venkatachalam]]
| term_start2        = 12 October 1979
| term_start2        = 12 October 1979  
| term_end2          = 1 December 1979
| term_end2          = 1 December 1979
| predecessor2        = [[P. K. Vasudevan Nair]]
| predecessor2        = [[P. K. Vasudevan Nair]]
| successor2          = [[President's rule]]
| successor2          = [[E. K. Nayanar]]
| office3            = [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| office3            = [[List of speakers of the Kerala Legislative Assembly|Speaker]] of the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start3        = 9 June 1961
| term_start3        = 9 June 1961
| term_end3          = 11 November 1961
| term_end3          = 11 November 1961
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| term_end5          = 20 March 1977
| term_end5          = 20 March 1977
| successor5          = [[Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait]]
| successor5          = [[Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait]]
| predecessor5        = [[Muhammad Ismail]]
| predecessor5        = [[M. Muhammad Ismail|Muhammad Ismail]]
| constituency5      = [[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]
| constituency5      = [[Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manjeri]]
| office6            = [[Niyamasabha|Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| office6            = [[Niyamasabha|Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
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| term_end6          = 6 March 1962
| term_end6          = 6 March 1962
| constituency6      = [[Tanur (State Assembly constituency)|Tanur]]
| constituency6      = [[Tanur (State Assembly constituency)|Tanur]]
| successor6          = C. Muhammed Kutty
| successor6          = C. Muhammed Kutty
| predecessor6        = ''Position established''
| predecessor6        = ''Position established''
| term_start7        = 6 March 1967
| term_start7        = 6 March 1967
| term_end7          = 17 September 1970  
| term_end7          = 17 September 1970
| constituency7      = [[Mankada (State Assembly constituency)|Mankada]]
| constituency7      = [[Mankada (State Assembly constituency)|Mankada]]
| successor7          = M. Moideen Kutty
| successor7          = M. Moideen Kutty
| predecessor7        = P. Abdul Majeed
| predecessor7        = P. Abdul Majeed
| term_start8        = 17 September 1970
| term_start8        = 17 September 1970
| term_end8          = 5 February 1973
| term_end8          = 5 February 1973
| constituency8      = [[Kondotty (State Assembly constituency)|Kondotty]]
| constituency8      = [[Kondotty (State Assembly constituency)|Kondotty]]
| successor8          = P. Seethi Haji
| successor8          = P. Seethi Haji
| predecessor8        = Sayed Ummer Bafakhy
| predecessor8        = Sayed Ummer Bafakhy
| term_start9        = 25 March 1977
| term_start9        = 25 March 1977
| term_end9          = 3 January 1980
| term_end9          = 3 January 1980
| constituency9      = [[Malappuram (State Assembly constituency)|Malappuram]]
| constituency9      = [[Malappuram (State Assembly constituency)|Malappuram]]
| successor9          = [[U. A. Beeran]]
| successor9          = [[U. A. Beeran]]
| predecessor9        = [[U. A. Beeran]]
| predecessor9        = [[U. A. Beeran]]
| term_start10        = 26 March 1980
| term_start10        = 26 March 1980
| term_end10          = 28 September 1983
| term_end10          = 28 September 1983
| constituency10      = [[Manjeri (State Assembly constituency)|Manjeri]]
| constituency10      = [[Manjeri (State Assembly constituency)|Manjeri]]
| successor10        = [[Ishaq Kurikkal]]
| successor10        = [[Ishaq Kurikkal]]
| predecessor10      = Abdulla Kurikkal
| predecessor10      = Abdulla Kurikkal
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1927|7|15|df=y}}
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1927|7|15|df=y}}
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| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=yes|1983|9|28|1927|7|15}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=yes|1983|9|28|1927|7|15}}
| death_place        = [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| death_place        = [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| spouse              = K. K. Amina (married on 1 June 1950)<ref>[http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1517.htm Loksabha Profile (1962)]</ref>
| spouse              = {{Marriage|K K Amina|1950}}
| children            = Two daughters and a son ([[M. K. Muneer]])
| children            = Two daughters and a son ([[M. K. Muneer]])
| party              = [[Indian Union Muslim League]]
| party              = [[Indian Union Muslim League]]
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| year                = 2007
| year                = 2007
| source              = https://web.archive.org/web/20051219145038/http://www.keralacm.gov.in/mohammed.html Govt. of Kerala
| source              = https://web.archive.org/web/20051219145038/http://www.keralacm.gov.in/mohammed.html Govt. of Kerala
| caption            =
}}
}}
'''Cheriyankandi Muhammad Koya''' (15 July 1927 – 28 September 1983) popularly known as '''C. H. Muhammad Koya''' was an Indian social reformer and statesman who served as the 10th [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Chief Minister of Kerala]] from October to December 1979.<ref name=":1" /> He is more often noted for being the Minister of Education of Kerala from 1967 to 1973 and again from 1977 to 1979.<ref name=":1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20051219145038/http://www.keralacm.gov.in/mohammed.html Chief Minister of Kerala (Official Website)]</ref> After his Chief Ministership, Koya went on to become the 2nd [[List of deputy chief ministers of Kerala|Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala]] from 1981 until his death in 1983. He is the first [[Indian Union Muslim League]] member to lead a state in independent India.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Aravamudan|first1=Gita|last2=Louis|first2=Arul B.|date=30 Nov 1979|title=RSS is Attacking the Muslim minority: Mohammed Koya|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/interview/story/19791130-rss-is-attacking-the-muslim-minority-mohammed-koya-822379-2014-02-21|website=India Today|location=Trivandrum}}</ref>


'''Cheriyan Kandi Muhammad Koya''' (15 July 1927–28 September 1983), known as '''C. H. Muhammad Koya''', was an Indian politician who served as the Minister of Education in [[Kerala|Kerala Government]] from 1967 to 1973 and from 1977 to 1979.<ref name=":1" /> He also led the cabinet as the eighth [[Chief Minister of Kerala]] from 12 October to 1 December 1979.<ref name=":1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20051219145038/http://www.keralacm.gov.in/mohammed.html Chief Minister of Kerala (Official Website)]</ref><ref name=":0">Miller, E. Roland. "Mappila Muslim Culture" State University of New York Press, Albany (2015); p. 204, 235–36, 329, 333, and 345.</ref> Koya was the first [[Indian Union Muslim League]] member to lead a state in independent India.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aravamudan|first=Gita|last2=Louis|first2=Arul B.|date=30 Nov 1979|title=RSS is Attacking the Muslim minority: Mohammed Koya|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/interview/story/19791130-rss-is-attacking-the-muslim-minority-mohammed-koya-822379-2014-02-21|website=India Today|location=Trivandrum}}</ref>
As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the education of [[Other Backward Class|backward classes]] in northern Kerala.<ref name=":0">Miller, E. Roland. "Mappila Muslim Culture" State University of New York Press, Albany (2015); p. 204, 235–36, 329, 333, and 345.</ref> He also served as the Home Minister (1969–73) and the [[List of Deputy Chief Ministers of Kerala|Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala]] (1981–83).<ref name=":1" />
 
As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the education of [[Other Backward Class|backward classes]] in northern Kerala.<ref name=":0" /> He also served as the Home Minister (1969–73) and the [[List of Deputy Chief Ministers of Kerala|Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala]] (1981–83).<ref name=":1" />


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==


Cheriyan Kandi Muhammad Koya was born in 1927 at [[Atholi, Kerala|Atholi]] in northern Kerala, to Payampunathil Ali and Mariyumma.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Miller, Roland. E., "Mappila" in "The Encyclopedia of Islam". Volume VI. E. J. Brill, Leiden. 1987. pp. 458–56.</ref>
Cheriyan Kandi Muhammad Koya was born in 1927 at [[Atholi, Kerala|Atholi]] in northern Kerala, to Payampunathil Ali and Mariyumma.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Miller, Roland. E., "Mappila" in "The Encyclopedia of Islam". Volume VI. E. J. Brill, Leiden. 1987. pp. 458–56.</ref> Koya floated the Muslim Students Federation, the students wing of the [[All-India Muslim League]], in Malabar District while he was at [[Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College|Zamorin's College]], [[Kozhikode]] and later helped to organize an admirable reception for the prominent Muslim League leader and later Prime Minister of Pakistan [[Liaquat Ali Khan]] at [[Kozhikode]] (1945).<ref name=":0" /> He joined the ''[[Chandrika (newspaper)|Chandrika]]'' newspaper, the official organ of the Muslim League, in 1946.<ref name="robin 1">Jeffrey, Robin. "Politics, Women and Well-Being: How Kerala became a Model" Palgrave McMillan (1992); 112 and 114.</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>[http://niyamasabha.org/codes/Speakers%20&%20Deputy%20Speakers%20Book%20Final.pdf Speakers & Deputy Speakers Book – Kerala Legislative Assembly]</ref>
 
While studying at [[Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College|Zamorin's College]], [[Calicut]], Koya founded the [[Muslim Students Federation]], the youth wing of the [[All-India Muslim League]].<ref name=":0" /> He later helped to organize a reception for the prominent Muslim League leader [[Liaquat Ali Khan]] (at Calicut in 1945).<ref name=":0" /> He joined the ''[[Chandrika (newspaper)|Chandrika]]'' newspaper, the official organ of the Muslim League, in 1946.<ref name="robin 1">Jeffrey, Robin. "Politics, Women and Well-Being: How Kerala became a Model" Palgrave McMillan (1992); 112 and 114.</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>[http://niyamasabha.org/codes/Speakers%20&%20Deputy%20Speakers%20Book%20Final.pdf Speakers & Deputy Speakers Book – Kerala Legislative Assembly]</ref>
 
Koya is remembered for his "spirited" reply to [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], the then [[Prime Minister of India]] (when the latter publicly criticized [[Indian Union Muslim League]] as "a dead horse" at Calicut in 1955).<ref name=":0" />


He was first elected to the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala Assembly]] in the [[1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1957 legislative elections]]. He went on to hold several key Kerala cabinet posts (Minister for Education, Deputy Chief Minister, [[Interior minister|Home Minister]], and Minister for Finance). He served under both [[Indian National Congress]] and [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India]]Chief Ministers ([[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]], [[C. Achutha Menon]], [[K. Karunakaran]], [[A. K. Antony]], and [[P. K. Vasudevan Nair]]).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />  
Koya was first elected to the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala Assembly]] in the [[1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1957 legislative elections]]. He went on to hold several key Kerala cabinet posts (Minister for Education, Deputy Chief Minister, [[Interior minister|Home Minister]], and Minister for Finance). He served under both [[Indian National Congress]] and [[Communist Party of India]] Chief Ministers ([[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]], [[C. Achutha Menon]], [[K. Karunakaran]], [[A. K. Antony]], and [[P. K. Vasudevan Nair]]).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] in the [[1962 Indian general election|1962]] (1962–67) and in 1973 (1973–77,<ref name=":0" /> by-elections, replacing recently deceased [[M. Muhammad Ismail|M. Muhammed Ismail]]).<ref name=":2" />


Koya was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] in the [[1962 Indian general election|1962]] (1962–67) and in 1973 (1973–77,<ref name=":0" /> by-elections, replacing recently deceased [[Muhammad Ismail|M. Muhammed Ismail]]). He was a Member in the [[University of Kerala|Kerala University Senate]] and served as Chairman, Governing Body, [[National Institute of Technology Calicut|REC, Calicut]].<ref name=":2">[http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m424.htm Kerala Legislative Assembly]</ref>
He was a Member in the [[University of Kerala|Kerala University Senate]] and served as chairman, Governing Body, [[National Institute of Technology Calicut|REC, Kozhikode]].<ref name=":2">[http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m424.htm Kerala Legislative Assembly]</ref>


Koya died on 28 September, 1983 while serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala.<ref name=":2" /> He was aged just 56 at the time of his death.<ref name=":2" />  
Koya died suddenly due to a massive [[hemorrhagic stroke]] on 28 September 1983 while serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala.<ref name=":2" /> He was aged just 56 at the time of his death.<ref name=":2" /> His death came in [[Hyderabad]], where he had gone for a meeting of state Industrial Ministers. His dead body was flown back to [[Thiruvananthapuram]], and later transported to his native place, where he was buried with full state honours. He was survived by his mother, wife, three children and many siblings.


=== Legacy ===
== Legacy ==
{{Quote|title=|quote="Young men like C. H. Muhammad Koya realized that violent revolt promised nothing for them [the Kerala Muslims]. Electoral politics, on the other hand, might offer a great deal."|source=[[Robin Jeffrey]] (historian)<ref name="robin 1"/>|author=}}
{{Blockquote|title=|quote="Young men like C. H. Muhammad Koya realized that violent revolt promised nothing for them [the Kerala Muslims]. Electoral politics, on the other hand, might offer a great deal."|source=[[Robin Jeffrey]] (historian)<ref name="robin 1"/>|author=}}
Koya was known his eloquent oratory and was described by scholar [[Roland E. Miller|R. E. Miller]] as "grassroots star of the Mappila community" and the "ranking hero of Muslim youth" in Kerala.<ref name=":0" /> He acted as a "bridge-builder" among various social and religious groups of Kerala.<ref name=":0" />  
Koya was known his eloquent oratory and was described by scholar [[Roland E. Miller|R. E. Miller]] as "grassroots star of the Mappila community" and the "ranking hero of Muslim youth" in Kerala.<ref name=":0" /> He acted as a "bridge-builder" among various social and religious groups of Kerala.<ref name=":0" /> Koya is remembered for his "spirited" reply to [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], the then [[Prime Minister of India]] when the latter publicly criticized [[Indian Union Muslim League]] as "a dead horse" at Kozhikode (1955).<ref name=":0" />


As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the Mappila community in secular education, but also advocated higher standards in the 'Arabic Colleges'.{{Efn|Kerala 'Arabic Colleges' are the equivalent of north Indian [[madrasas]]|name=|group=}}<ref name=":0" /> During Koya's tenure as the Minister of Education, the [[University of Calicut]], [[University of cochin]] was established.<ref name=":0" />
As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the Mappila community in secular education.<ref name=":0" /> During Koya's tenure as the Minister of Education, the [[University of Calicut]] was established in northern Kerala.<ref name=":0" /> He also advocated higher standards in the 'Arabic Colleges'.{{Efn|Kerala 'Arabic Colleges' are the equivalent of north Indian [[madrasas]]|name=|group=}}<ref name=":0" />


== Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly ==
== Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly ==
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*5th Assembly (1977–79) – Malappuram
*5th Assembly (1977–79) – Malappuram
*6th Assembly (1980–82) – Manjeri
*6th Assembly (1980–82) – Manjeri
*7th Assembly (1982–87) – Manjeri (died on 28 September, 1983)
*7th Assembly (1982–87) – Manjeri (died on 28 September 1983)


== In Kerala council of ministers ==
== In Kerala council of ministers ==
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|[[Pattom A. Thanu Pillai|Pattom]] Ministry
|[[Pattom A. Thanu Pillai|Pattom]] Ministry
|Speaker (independent)
|Speaker (independent)
|09-06-1961 to 10-11-1961
|09-06-1961 to 10–11–1961
|<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
|<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
|-
|-
|2nd [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad|E. M. S.]]  Ministry
|2nd [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad|E. M. S.]]  Ministry
|Minister for Education
|Minister for Education
|06-03-1967 to 21-10-1969  
|06-03-1967 to 21–10–1969  
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|-
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|Minister for Home
|Minister for Home
Minister for Education  
Minister for Education  
|01-11-1969 to 01-08-1970  
|01-11-1969 to 01–08–1970  
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|-
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|Minister for Home
|Minister for Home
Minister for Education  
Minister for Education  
|04-10-1970 to 01-03-1973
|04-10-1970 to 01–03–1973
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|-
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|Minister for Finance
|Minister for Finance
Minister for Education
Minister for Education
|25-03-1977 to 25-04-1977
|25-03-1977 to 25–04–1977
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|-
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|Minister for Education
|Minister for Education
|
|
*27-04-1977 to 20-12-1977  
*27-04-1977 to 20–12–1977  
*04-10-1978 to 27-10-1978  
*04-10-1978 to 27–10–1978  
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|-
|[[P. K. Vasudevan Nair|P. K. V.]] Ministry
|[[P. K. Vasudevan Nair|P. K. V.]] Ministry
|Minister for Education
|Minister for Education
|29-10-1978 to 07-10-1979  
|29-10-1978 to 07–10–1979  
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|-
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* {{Citation|title=Chief Ministers, Ministers, and Leaders of Opposition of Kerala|last=|publisher=Secratriat of [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala Legislature]]|year=2018|location=[[Thiruvananthapuram]]|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/14kla/chief%20ministers,%20ministers,%20leaders%20of%20opposition.pdf}}
* {{Citation|title=Chief Ministers, Ministers, and Leaders of Opposition of Kerala|last=|publisher=Secratriat of [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala Legislature]]|year=2018|location=[[Thiruvananthapuram]]|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/14kla/chief%20ministers,%20ministers,%20leaders%20of%20opposition.pdf}}
 
==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|C. H. Mohammed Koya}}
{{commons category|C. H. Mohammed Koya}}
*[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/interview/story/19791130-rss-is-attacking-the-muslim-minority-mohammed-koya-822379-2014-02-21 C. H. Mohammad Koya: Interview (India Today) 1979]
*[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/interview/story/19791130-rss-is-attacking-the-muslim-minority-mohammed-koya-822379-2014-02-21 C. H. Mohammad Koya: Interview with India Today (1979)]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwuWCkRqVDM&list=PLGWCePdgnqHxg6dQJTSby5SmSLv28UnX2&index=5&t=0s C. H. Mohammed Koya in Louis Malle's ''Phantom India'' (video) (@ 39.20)]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwuWCkRqVDM&list=PLGWCePdgnqHxg6dQJTSby5SmSLv28UnX2&index=5&t=0s C. H. Mohammed Koya in Louis Malle's ''Phantom India'']  
{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = [[P.K. Vasudevan Nair]] | title = [[Chief Minister of Kerala]] | years = 1979– 1979 | after = [[E.K. Nayanar]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[P.K. Vasudevan Nair]] | title = [[Chief Minister of Kerala]] | years = 1979– 1979 | after = [[E.K. Nayanar]]}}
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[[Category:1927 births|Koya, C.H. Mohammed]]
[[Category:1927 births|Koya, C.H. Mohammed]]
[[Category:1983 deaths|Koya, C.H. Mohammed]]
[[Category:1983 deaths|Koya, C.H. Mohammed]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Kerala]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Kerala politicians]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kozhikode]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kozhikode]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians]]
[[Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians]]
[[Category:3rd Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1962–1967]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Kerala]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Kerala]]
[[Category:Deputy chief ministers of Kerala]]
[[Category:Deputy chief ministers of Kerala]]
[[Category:Home ministers of Kerala]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1957–1959]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1957–1959]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1960–1964]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1960–1964]]
[[Category:Education Ministers of Kerala]]
[[Category:Education ministers of Kerala]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1967–1970]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1970–1977]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1977–1979]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1980–1982]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1982–1987]]

Latest revision as of 16:41, 25 March 2026


C. H. Mohammad Koya
2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala
In office
24 May 1982 – 28 September 1983
Chief MinisterK. Karunakaran
Preceded byOffice Vacant
Succeeded byK. Avukader Kutty Naha
In office
28 December 1981 – 17 March 1982
Chief MinisterK. Karunakaran
Preceded byR. Sankar
Succeeded byOffice Vacant
8th Chief Minister of Kerala
In office
12 October 1979 – 1 December 1979
Preceded byP. K. Vasudevan Nair
Succeeded byE. K. Nayanar
Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
In office
9 June 1961 – 11 November 1961
Preceded byK. M. Seethi Sahib
Succeeded byAlexander Parambithara
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
25 February 1962 – 21 February 1967
Preceded byK. P. Kutti Krishnan Nair
Succeeded byEbrahim Sulaiman Sait
ConstituencyKozhikode
In office
5 February 1973 – 20 March 1977
Preceded byMuhammad Ismail
Succeeded byEbrahim Sulaiman Sait
ConstituencyManjeri
Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly
In office
5 April 1957 – 6 March 1962
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byC. Muhammed Kutty
ConstituencyTanur
In office
6 March 1967 – 17 September 1970
Preceded byP. Abdul Majeed
Succeeded byM. Moideen Kutty
ConstituencyMankada
In office
17 September 1970 – 5 February 1973
Preceded bySayed Ummer Bafakhy
Succeeded byP. Seethi Haji
ConstituencyKondotty
In office
25 March 1977 – 3 January 1980
Preceded byU. A. Beeran
Succeeded byU. A. Beeran
ConstituencyMalappuram
In office
26 March 1980 – 28 September 1983
Preceded byAbdulla Kurikkal
Succeeded byIshaq Kurikkal
ConstituencyManjeri
Personal details
Born(1927-07-15)15 July 1927
Atholi, Madras Presidency, British India
Died28 September 1983(1983-09-28) (aged 56)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Political partyIndian Union Muslim League
Spouse(s)
K K Amina
(
m. 1950)
ChildrenTwo daughters and a son (M. K. Muneer)
As of 2 November, 2007
Source: Govt. of Kerala

Cheriyankandi Muhammad Koya (15 July 1927 – 28 September 1983) popularly known as C. H. Muhammad Koya was an Indian social reformer and statesman who served as the 10th Chief Minister of Kerala from October to December 1979.[1] He is more often noted for being the Minister of Education of Kerala from 1967 to 1973 and again from 1977 to 1979.[1] After his Chief Ministership, Koya went on to become the 2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala from 1981 until his death in 1983. He is the first Indian Union Muslim League member to lead a state in independent India.[2]

As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the education of backward classes in northern Kerala.[3] He also served as the Home Minister (1969–73) and the Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala (1981–83).[1]

Life and career[edit | edit source]

Cheriyan Kandi Muhammad Koya was born in 1927 at Atholi in northern Kerala, to Payampunathil Ali and Mariyumma.[1][4] Koya floated the Muslim Students Federation, the students wing of the All-India Muslim League, in Malabar District while he was at Zamorin's College, Kozhikode and later helped to organize an admirable reception for the prominent Muslim League leader and later Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan at Kozhikode (1945).[3] He joined the Chandrika newspaper, the official organ of the Muslim League, in 1946.[5][3][1][6]

Koya was first elected to the Kerala Assembly in the 1957 legislative elections. He went on to hold several key Kerala cabinet posts (Minister for Education, Deputy Chief Minister, Home Minister, and Minister for Finance). He served under both Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India Chief Ministers (E. M. S. Namboodiripad, C. Achutha Menon, K. Karunakaran, A. K. Antony, and P. K. Vasudevan Nair).[3][1] He was elected to the Lok Sabha in the 1962 (1962–67) and in 1973 (1973–77,[3] by-elections, replacing recently deceased M. Muhammed Ismail).[7]

He was a Member in the Kerala University Senate and served as chairman, Governing Body, REC, Kozhikode.[7]

Koya died suddenly due to a massive hemorrhagic stroke on 28 September 1983 while serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala.[7] He was aged just 56 at the time of his death.[7] His death came in Hyderabad, where he had gone for a meeting of state Industrial Ministers. His dead body was flown back to Thiruvananthapuram, and later transported to his native place, where he was buried with full state honours. He was survived by his mother, wife, three children and many siblings.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

"Young men like C. H. Muhammad Koya realized that violent revolt promised nothing for them [the Kerala Muslims]. Electoral politics, on the other hand, might offer a great deal."

— Robin Jeffrey (historian)[5]

Koya was known his eloquent oratory and was described by scholar R. E. Miller as "grassroots star of the Mappila community" and the "ranking hero of Muslim youth" in Kerala.[3] He acted as a "bridge-builder" among various social and religious groups of Kerala.[3] Koya is remembered for his "spirited" reply to Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India when the latter publicly criticized Indian Union Muslim League as "a dead horse" at Kozhikode (1955).[3]

As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the Mappila community in secular education.[3] During Koya's tenure as the Minister of Education, the University of Calicut was established in northern Kerala.[3] He also advocated higher standards in the 'Arabic Colleges'.[lower-alpha 1][3]

Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly[edit | edit source]

Source: Kerala Legislative Assembly (profile)

  • 1st Assembly (1957–59) – Tanur
  • 2nd Assembly (1960–64) – Tanur (resigned on 6 March 1962)[7]
  • 3rd Assembly (1967–70) – Mankada
  • 4th Assembly (1970–77) – Kondotty (resigned on 5 February 1973)[7]
  • 5th Assembly (1977–79) – Malappuram
  • 6th Assembly (1980–82) – Manjeri
  • 7th Assembly (1982–87) – Manjeri (died on 28 September 1983)

In Kerala council of ministers[edit | edit source]

Ministry Office Term of office Source(s)
Pattom Ministry Speaker (independent) 09-06-1961 to 10–11–1961 [1][7]
2nd E. M. S. Ministry Minister for Education 06-03-1967 to 21–10–1969 [1]
1st Achutha Menon Ministry Minister for Home

Minister for Education

01-11-1969 to 01–08–1970 [1]
2nd Achutha Menon Ministry Minister for Home

Minister for Education

04-10-1970 to 01–03–1973 [1]
1st Karunakaran Ministry Minister for Finance

Minister for Education

25-03-1977 to 25–04–1977 [1]
1st Antony Ministry Minister for Education
  • 27-04-1977 to 20–12–1977
  • 04-10-1978 to 27–10–1978
 [1]
P. K. V. Ministry Minister for Education 29-10-1978 to 07–10–1979 [1]
Koya Ministry Chief Minister 12 October to 1 December 1979
2nd Karunakaran Ministry Deputy Chief Minister 28 December 1981 to 17 March 1982 [1]
3rd Karunakaran Ministry Deputy Chief Minister 24 May 1982 to 28 September 1983 [1]

Works[edit | edit source]

Source: Kerala Legislative Assembly (profile)

  • My Haj pilgrimage
  • Caux-London-Cairo
  • The Malaysia I Saw
  • How Legislative Assembly Works
  • Soviet Union
  • Muslim Rule in India Through Stories
  • Five Days in Sri Lanka
  • Camel to Cadillac
  • Travel Around the World

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Kerala 'Arabic Colleges' are the equivalent of north Indian madrasas

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 Chief Minister of Kerala (Official Website)
  2. ↑ Aravamudan, Gita; Louis, Arul B. (30 November 1979). "RSS is Attacking the Muslim minority: Mohammed Koya". India Today. Trivandrum.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Miller, E. Roland. "Mappila Muslim Culture" State University of New York Press, Albany (2015); p. 204, 235–36, 329, 333, and 345.
  4. ↑ Miller, Roland. E., "Mappila" in "The Encyclopedia of Islam". Volume VI. E. J. Brill, Leiden. 1987. pp. 458–56.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jeffrey, Robin. "Politics, Women and Well-Being: How Kerala became a Model" Palgrave McMillan (1992); 112 and 114.
  6. ↑ Speakers & Deputy Speakers Book – Kerala Legislative Assembly
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Kerala Legislative Assembly

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=C._H._Mohammed_Koya&oldid=468174"
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