Who was Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, Kerala IUML President who died at 74?

Kerala State President of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal died on Sunday at the age of 74, PTI reported, quoting family sources. Thangal was reportedly under treatment for various health related ailments at a private hospital in Kochi where he died on Sunday afternoon. 

“He passed away shortly after 12 in the afternoon. The arrangements to take the body to his home town are being made now,” a senior office-bearer of the IUML told PTI.

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His mortal remains will be taken to Malappuram and will be kept at the town hall for the public to pay their last respect. He will be laid to rest on Monday. 

Who was Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal?

Born on June 15, 1947, to the Pukkoya family in Malappuram, Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal started his career by becoming the president of the Nurul Ulama, which is a student organization in Malappuram. He went on to become the founding president of Samastha’s student body, the SSF, in 1973 and continued in this position until 1979.

He succeeded Panakkad Sayeed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal to become the state president of IUML in 2009. Prior to that, he was the Malappuram district president of the League for close to two decades. He was also serving as the chairman of the IUML National Political Advisory Committee at the time of his death.

Thangal is survived by his wife Shareefa Fatima Suhra and four children. 

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Following his death, several leaders took to social media to pay tributes.

“Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, Kerala State President of IUML and a beloved spiritual leader, has passed away. My condolences to his family and followers. He was a strong secular voice of the UDF, supporting brotherhood, respect and progress for all. He will be dearly missed,” former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

“Saddened by news of @iumlofficial Supremo Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal sb’s demise. Immense loss not just for IUML but for all of us. His contributions to Muslim political empowerment cannot be minimised. May Allah grant him maghfirah & bless his dear ones with sabr-e-jameel,” Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), tweeted.