New Delhi, Monday 02 August 2010: The postal department brought out a stamp in memory of Janab Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal, former president of Indian Union Muslim League(IUML). Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh released the stamp in a simple function held here on Monday. The stamp is priced at Rupees five.

“I am very happy to release this stamp in commemoration of the life and work of Janab Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal on his first death anniversary”, said Dr Singh while releasing the stamp. The Prime Minister described Thangal as a man who always uphold democracy and secular feeling.

The function was attended by Union Ministers E Ahmed, AK Antony, Mullapally Ramachandran, Veerappa Moily and IUML president Panakkad Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal, A minute’s silence was observed before the commencement of the meeting as a mark of respect for KM Mathew, Chief Editor Malayala Manorama, who passed away on Sunday.

Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal who was veteran Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader had died on August 1 in 2009. Panakkad Thangal had dominated the Kerala politics for over three decades. For several decades he had been the fulcrum on which the IUML, the second most powerful ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, stood steady.

Thangal, born on May 4, 1936, was the eldest son of Panakkad Pookoya Thangal. After his schooling in Calicut, he went for higher studies on Islam in Tirur.

In 1958, he went to Egypt for further studies and obtained a higher degree from Al Azhar University in 1961. He continued his studies in Cairo University and pursued a doctorate in Arabic literature in 1966.

On the death of his father in 1975, he took over as president of the Kerala state committee of IUML, a post he held till his death. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, Thangal made a passionate plea to all the Muslims in the state to remain calm.