I remember a metal trunk (luggage trunk used in earlier period) lying below the bed of “Room # 2” of Nafeesath. I don’t know from where that trunk has come from, probably from Trivandrum, but I remember vellippava instructed me to open it and organize the bunch of text books inside it for reorganizing and shifting it to “Islamic center library” as his personal contribution. The “Islamic Center Mosque” was in its inception stage at that time and after constructing the mosque, vellippava was focusing to start an Islamic library inside the Islamic center complex. As far as my memory goes., this trunk of book was the first set of consignment dispatched to Islamic center library.
While sorting out the books inside that trunk as per his instruction, I saw several books of History, Culture, Philosophy, etc., of various scholars and authors which was not familiar at that time. Moreover, there were several Sunni and Sufi collections also in that. This created a curiosity within me and I asked him whether all these books are being sent to Islamic center library? To this he replied “yes, except the Ahmaddiya(qadiyani) and the extreme “kurrafaath” books, all the other books will be included in the library and people can refer and learn”. From this, I realize, at least now, that he was very open minded in reading and understanding all “school of thought” and various ideological streams of Islam unlike present day scholars with sectarian hatred mindset. Those collection of books were rare and not easily available from the libraries or shops. He always advised us to learn the rich Islamic history and tradition first, so that we will be having confidence and self-respect towards our religion and thereby be motivated to learn other aspects of our religion. True to the core, if we are ignorant of our rich heritage and past glory, we are missing something great about our religion.
Most of the books in that trunk was from his own collection, as I recognized it through his signature on the first page of the book, but for some books, his signature was missing and I assumed that it will be given to him by his well-wishers.
He was communicating with various eminent personalities across the length and breadth of the community to request them to contribute for the newly established Islamic library. I assisted him in this task too. On one occasion, I saw a set of new book arrived and he was writing on the first page “donated by Prem Naseer”, the Malayalam film actor. I was surprised and asked him how we can accept film actor’s contribution to Islamic library? He told me, that Prem Naseer was an art lover and through his contribution Vellippava arranged Islamic art books of “calligraphy” and other fine arts books. In this way, he was trying to practice inclusiveness among the community to a great extent wherever possible. Prem Naseer was having great respect towards our vellippava and he reiterated this when I visited Prem Naseer in his house in Calicut to invite for the fine arts day inauguration of Farook College.
I remember, he used to sit in his small office room of a size close to 100 square feet on the northeastern corner of Nafeesath, facing diagonally opposite of canoli canal for long hours just to serve the community relentlessly. This small room is a witness for countless discussions he had with various intellectuals, ministers, politicians and social workers of that time.
His favorite time for reading books is in the morning. I can recollect vellippava reading the Quran translation and other religious books by sitting in the verandah of Nafeesath, by placing the book on his lap with one leg crossed over the other. During the evening, his routine was to listen to the radio news. He will switch on the radio without fail when the Lakshadweep news is about to finish and the Kerala news starts. Uppuma would also join him to catch the latest news updates.
Most of the time when I went to Nafeesath, he would be either reading or writing. If we are travelling with him in a car or train, he would fold the magazine or newspaper three times making it in a sturdy upright position to avoid vibration and discomfort to the eyes while on move. He never let his driver to over speed.
Most of the time when I went to Nafeesath, he would be either reading or writing. If we are travelling with him in a car or train, he would fold the magazine or newspaper three times making it in a sturdy upright position to avoid vibration and discomfort to the eyes while on move. He never let his driver to over speed.
Chandrika, League times & Sastra Vicharam were the periodicals which were mostly discussed. By the time Madhyamam daily emerged in Kerala, his eye sight had deteriorated and due to that he was not able to dedicate more time on reading.
He didn’t stop his writing even after his eye sight had completely faded. On the sad demise of his former boss and India’s first irrigation minister Mr.K L Rao, I had helped him in writing the obituary to be posted on Mathrubumi.
The anecdotes are innumerous….the stories should keep unfolding .
May All award him Jannah…. Ameen….
Mohammed Misbah (Grandson of Kuttiammu Sahib)Civil Projects Manager & Dubai based Entrepreneur
