Muhammad Ismail

M. Muhammad Ismail (5 June 1896—5 April 1972) was an Indian politician and social worker from southern Indian state Tamil Nadu. He was a founder of the Indian Union Muslim League party after the partition of British India. He was popularly known in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as the "Quaid-e-Millat" ("the Leader of the Nation"). Ismail was a member of Madras Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition (1946—52).

Ismail started the 'Young Muslim Society' in his home town Tirunelveli Pettai in 1909 ( as a 13-year-old). He was also instrumental in establishing Majlis ul-Ulama ('the Council of Islamic Scholars') in 1918.

In 1945, he became the President of the Madras Presidency unit of the All-India Muslim League.

With the Indian Union Muslim League Indian Union Muslim League leadership with Muhammad Ismail in 1954. When British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan, the All-India Muslim League was virtually disbanded (December, 1947).

Attempts for an alliance In the 1950s, Ismail started negotiating with the stubborn High Command in New Delhi (through the Madras leadership) for an electoral alliance with the Congress.

+General Elections General ElectionConstituency WinnerPartyRunner upMargin1962 (Third)Manjeri M. Muhammad Ismail Indian Union Muslim League Muhammed Kunju (CPI)4,3281967 (Fourth) Manjeri M. Muhammad Ismail A. N. Beevi (Congress)107,4941971 (Fifth)Manjeri M. Muhammad Ismail S. P. Mumammed Ali (Ind.)119,837

Business career Ismail went into business in the 1920s and was involved in various commerce committees.

The boards and committees he was a member of include: Madras Port Trust Board, Madras Board of Industries, Madras Provincial Marketing Board, Madras Excise Licensing Board, and South India Railway Advisory Committee. Indian National Congress politician M. Bhaktavatsalam, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, paying his tribute, described Ismail as a "a model for all Opposition leaders". The Tamil Nadu Government renamed Nagapattinam District as "Nagai Quaid-e-Millat" District in M. Muhammad Ismail's honour (however, it reverted to its old name in 1997, when all names of individuals were dropped from the names of districts and transport corporations). In 2003, the Tamil Nadu Government constructed a memorial hall for M. Muhammad Ismail.