Braving adverse weather conditions, hundreds of Keralites turned up at Shantiniketan Indian School at a public function on Sunday evening to mourn the demise of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Kerala unit president and widely respected social activist Panakkad Syed Mohamed Ali Shihab Thangal
Thangal passed away in Kerala’s Malapuram on Saturday.
Leading the speakers at the event organised by Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC Qatar), Indian Community Benevolent Fund (ICBF) president Dr Mohan Thomas recalled his meetings with the late leader.
“I was touched by his concern for poor and downtrodden, modesty, humility and easy accessibility to commoners”, said Dr Thomas.
The ICBF remembered a letter written by Thangal in his own handwriting, thanking him for an assistance that he could provide to the late leader.
Describing him as a messenger of communal harmony and peace, Dr Thomas felt perhaps no other Kerala social reformer of these days was as much respected in the GCC States as Thangal.
The ICBF chief also recalled the last meeting that he had with the IUML leader when he visited Qatar in March for laying the foundation stone of a steel factory in the Industrial Area.
Earlier KMCC general secretary S A M Basheer welcomed the gathering. Joppachan Thekkekkuttu (Indian Cultural and Arts Society), K K Shankaran (Sanskriti), Usman Parakkadavu (Indian Muslim Cultural Centre (IMCC), Zubair Abdullah (Indian Islamic Association Qatar), Abdul Latheef Nallalam (Qatar Indian Islahi Centre), Aseef Ummer ul Farooq (Risala Study Circle), Zuhail (Malappuram District Muslim Welfare Association of Qatar), and K P Noorudheen (Mass Qatar) were among others who remembered Thangal’s contributions to the cause of peace in Kerala.
KMCC vice president K T Abdul Latheef chaired the meeting. Secretary Abdul Azeez proposed a vote of thanks.
Earlier, a mass prayer was held in memory of Thangal. |
