Cannanore District Muslim Educational Association (CDMEA) The Cannanore District Muslim Educational Association was founded on April 28, 1964 at a meeting of eminent and socially committed Muslims, convened at Taj Hotel, Tellicherry. Late Jb. P.P. Ummer Kutty Haji chaired the meeting. An Executive Committee consisting of 27 members with Jb. V. Khalid Sahib as President and late Jb. Adv. P.M. Aboobacker as Secretary and late Jb. N.N. Ahamed Haji as Treasurer was constituted unanimously. The aim of the Association was to work for the educational progress of the Muslims of the erstwhile Kannur District (consisting of present Kannur and Kasaragod Districts and North Wynad Taluk). The Association’s jurisdiction is even now the old Kannur District. What inspired the founders of the Association to form such an organization was the educational backwardness of the area and especially of Muslim community and their earnest desire to elevate them from this dismal state. The immediate attention of the Association soon after its formation was attracted towards the pitiable condition of the Muslim boys and girls coming from poor family who were gifted by God with immense talent and immeasurable desire for study but hampered only by their poverty. The only remedy was to assist them financially to complete their studies. The Association envisaged a scheme for this and implemented it. Though the scheme had a setback for some time now it is being implemented with vigor and fervor. One can imagine the thrilling emotional gratification the members of the Association derive as they see around them persons who got financial assistance from the Association to complete their studies and occupy position of eminence in the society. They are buds that would have been blown by adverse winds but blossomed into bright flowers, thanks to CDMEA. Muslims of this region very badly felt the need to start a college of their own to meet the growing demands of ever-increasing numbers of students of the community who seek admission to colleges but the avenue for the same was missing. In those days there were only a few colleges in the north Malabar region. There the seats were usually not available for Muslim students because admission was strictly on merit, which generally Muslim candidates lacked miserably. So the Association started an Arts and Science College, the Sir Syed College in Taliparamba, in 1967 in 25 acre land donated for this purpose by Taliparamba Juma Masjid Trust Committee. The then Muthavalli of the Trust Jb. K.V. Zeiuddin Haji deserved special gratitude for this magnificent gift. The Muslim community of Kerala in general and Kannur area in particular remembers with great gratitude and high respect the patient sufferings, hard work and general contributions made by those peerless pioneers and charismatic leaders like Jb. C.K.P. Cheriya Mammoo Keyi Sahib (Vice President) and Jb. V.P. Mahamood Haji Sahib (General Secretary, CDMEA). Some other important members and office bearers of the Association who also rendered great service to it were Dr. A.V. Abdul Azeez Sahib, Jb. M.V. Aboo Sahib both former General Secretaries, Jb. C.O.T. Kunhi Pakki Sahib and Adv. K.K. Usman Kutty Sahib, both former Manager and Correspondent, Sir Syed College. Among the leading lights of CDMEA Jb. A.K. Kader Kutty Sahib was a luminous figure. His zest for education, inspiring leadership and enviable service are still fresh in the minds of the Muslim community. But for him Sir Syed College would have been a poor shadow of what it is today. Many Life Members of the Association like Jb. P.C.K. Thangal, Dr. A.K. Kather Kunhi and Kallatra Abdul Kader Haji served the Association with devotion. The Association is now managed by 61 members Executive Committee |
