KOTTAYAM: K M Jafar, a fourth generation descendant of Chakkiparamban Moideenkutty Haji, who is the father of Variyamkunnath Kunhammed Haji, firmly believes that Kunhammed Haji was a person who had held secular qualities very high throughout his life.
The 55-year-old Jafar, who is settled in Erattupetta in the district, had been researching for many years before coming out with the book ‘Malabar Porattam, Charithravum Nattucharithravum’ published by DC Books last year, which speaks about the life and principles of Variyamkunnath Kunhammed Haji. Through the book Jafar is trying to say that Kunhammed Haji, the stepbrother of his grandfather Muhiyuddinkutty Haji, was a mistaken person and he was truly secular.
“Though he was labelled as anti-Hindu, in reality he was not. Those leaders who took part with him in the movement against the British include Hindu leaders also. There are no evidence to prove that he was anti-Hindu,” said Jafar.
He also said that Moideenkutty Haji, father of Kunhammed Haji, had chosen Erattupetta in Kottayam district to go into hiding after the British were in the hunt for him for his participation in a rebellion against the British.
He was later caught and deported and was jailed in the Andaman Islands.
During his stay in Erattupetta for nearly eight years, he had married a woman from a Muslim family there, in which the couple had a son named Muhiyuddinkutty Haji. Jafar is the grandson of Muhiyuddinkutty Haji.
“During my research I found out that Chakkiparamban Moideenkutty Haji had earlier married another Muslim woman and Kunhammed Haji was born to the couple,” he said.
Jafar says that the British police used a special task force titled M-5 to mislead the people about Kunhammed Haji.
“The special police force wore Khilafat uniform and indulged in violence. They were paid by the British for doing so,” he said. The British succeeded in creating a division between the Hindus and Muslims then, he added.
