Today I met Dr. Abdullah, former Periyar Dasan.

Dr Abdullah 

Photo : T E Naser

Today I met Dr. Abdullah, former Periyar Dasan in his home.

It was a pleasing, enlightening and moving rendezvous with the learned scholar.

Dr Abdullah Sahib was sitting in his ஊஞ்சல் நாற்காலி - oonjal narkaali (swing chair) in the lawn when we entered his house. On seeing us, his face was full of smile and warmly welcomed us. He said Masha Allah, Alhumdulillah when he hugged us. Br Jan Muhammad, Br. T. E. Naser and Br. Yousuff Basha were with me.

He narrated the details of his journey towards Islam in his own characteristic way peppered with punch lines here and there.

Minutes just flew when Dr Abdullah is around.

I will share you the details in a couple of days, Insha Allah.
Till then just wait.

'Allah guided me..!' - Dr Abdullah, formerly Prof. Periyar Dasan pours his heart out.!

It was the most memorable evening for more than seven thousands of brothers assembled in Makkah Masjid in Chennai last Sunday.

They had assembled there to embrace and express their joy and pleasure to Dr Abdullah, formerly Professor Periyar Dasan who has embraced Islam this month.

Dr Abdullah poured his thoughts in his own style and enchanted the audience. One could see swelled eyes and blissful faces everywhere when he declared அல்லாஹ் நாடினான்; நான் மாறிவிட்டேன். - Allah naadinane naan mari vittane - Allah willed; I transformed myself!' Allah Akber.


You could hear him here, here, here and here
Br A.K.M Ibrahim has uploaded these video clips.
Jazakallah, Ibrahim bhai!!

Read : Periyar EVR's views on Islam!

Read : Periyar Dasan Abdullah's journey towards Islam! 
Read : Periyar Dasan's wife to embrace Islam!
Read : Am I ready to face my Lord? 
Read : Periyar Dasan, Moosa Kaka and Maryam Jameelah! 
Read : Periyar Dasan, Periyar EVR and Islam!

SIO leaders meet Kapil Sibal!

SIO Leaders meet  HRD Minister 

SIO National President Suhail K.K and General Secretary Shahnawaz Ali Raihan met Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and conveyed their apprehensions regarding Foreign University Bill.

The student leaders apprised the Central minister about the disastrous consequences and ramifications of the bill. They argued that Foreign University Bill would lead to rabid Commercialization of education and consequently plunge the nation in the pit of social inequality. They were wary of the unwarranted focus on 'market determined' courses.

Kapil Sibal assured the students leaders that all possible steps would be taken and a regulatory mechanism would be made. SIO President demanded amendment of Jamia Millia Islamia Act considering the fact that Jamia Millia Islamia was set up for improving educational standards of Muslims and declare Jamia as a minority institute.

Earlier SIO President appreciated the various steps taken by the Govt. in education sector especially the hike in budgetary allocation of Rs.5000 cr, in literacy programs and the bold step to pass the historic right to education act. 

A standard of campus etiquettes also need to be fixed so that cultural invasion and its impacts are minimized. The promotion of new campus environment may also push the concept of apolitical campus, they opined. 

Read : No reforms without debate!

Coco cola to pay Rs 216 crore fine, atlast!

In a landmark move the Kerala government has slapped the Coco cola company with a whopping 216 crore fine.
The company had depleted groundwater and had been dumping waste with a high metal content. This immoral act by the greedy company damaged agricultural land and the environment in Plachimada in Kerala.

The high-power committee set up by the Kerala Government has indicted the notorious company and recommended a fine to the tune of Rs 216 crores. The committee in its report has indicted that the cola company had caused multi-sectoral damages amounting to Rs. 216.26 crore through operation of its plant and other actions, and was obliged to pay compensation to the affected people.

Hats off to the local people and solidarity youth movement who had organised a long drawn out agitation against depletion of water sources and pollution by the company.

Read full report of the story at The Hindu here. and of financial express here.

Periyar Dasan, Periyar EVR, and Islam!!

 Professor Periyar Dasan has become Professor Abdullah now. If Periyar had been alive, he would have welcomed this bold move taken by the professor and congratulated him. 

Periyar had been very vocal in supporting Islam as anti-dote to caste atrocities. He has famously said, 'இன இழிவு நீங்க இஸ்லாமே நல்மருந்து!' - Ina izhivu neenga islamay nalmarundhu! (Islam is the best anti-tode to eradicate the menace of caste!!)

Do you want to hear Periyar's speech on Islam?

Tamilvanandotcom has uploaded his speech in its website. It is an historic speech. There is message in each and every word uttered by the Great leader of this part of the world. Mr Lena Tamilvanan has done a great service by uploading voice and thoughts of Periyar in this website.

தலித்துகளுக்கு விடுதலை!
இஸ்லாம் பற்றி பெரியார்
ஒவ்வொரு வாக்கியத்தின் இறுதியிலும் ஆமாம்- மும், வெங்காயத்தை -யும் தனக்கே உரிய பாணியில் உச்சரித்த பெரியார் அவர்களின் பேச்சுதான் முதல் பஞ்ச் வசனமாக இருக்கக்கூடும்.
1947ஆம் ஆண்டுவாக்கில், தமிழ்நாட்டின் ஒரு மூலையில் இருக்கும் சீலையான்பட்டி கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஆதிதிராவிடர்கள் 69 பேர் தீண்டாமைக் கொடுமை தாங்கமுடியாமல் இஸ்லாம் மதத்திற்கு மாறினார்கள்.
அதுகுறித்து பெரியார் பேசிய பேச்சு இது.
அதில் அவர், இந்து மதத்தில் நிலவிய ஏற்றத்தாழ்வுகளை வரிசைப்படுத்தும் விதமும், சமதர்ம சமுதாயத்திற்கு ஏற்றது இஸ்லாம் மதம்தான் என்றும் கூறும்விதம் அழகோ அழகு. நீங்களும் கேளுங்களேன் அவருடைய பேச்சை!
இஸ்லாம் மதம் பற்றி பெரியார்
To hear the speech click here and to read the full transcript of the speech click here
Read : An analysis on Periyar's views on Islam! 

Read : Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan to Abdullah!
Read : Periyar Dasan Abdullah's journey towards Islam! 
Read : Periyar Dasan's wife to embrace Islam!
Read : Am I ready to face my Lord? 
Read : Periyar Dasan, Moosa Kaka and Maryam Jameelah!

Periyar Dasan, Moosa Kaka and Maryam Jameelah!

Kavi Yogi Thannan Moosa

Professor Abdullah, former Periyar Dasan, mentions him as the man who provided திருப்பம் - turning point in his life.

He is Kavi Yogi Kavinjar Thannan Moosa. Affectionately called by all as Moosa Kaka. He has authored many books.  சௌந்தர்ய முத்திரை - Soundharya Muthirai and வெற்றிச் சூடி - Vetric choodi were the famous ones. He used to prefix சௌந்தர்ய முத்திரை - Soundharya Muthirai with his name for some time. He was very passionate about Tamil, literature, books etc.

He has served Islamic Foundation Trust and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind's cause in various ways. He was never an office bearer. But, he was one of those workers who remain in the back ground and work silently. He was involved in the production of books and advised in literary matters. He was a close confidant, friend and colleague of Moulana M. A. Jameel Ahmed.

He has left Chennai and has made Thondi his home. It is his ancestrol village. Besides it is far more better than the callous Chennai and its selfish people.

I called him over phone and talked with him. He was very happy to hear me. He talked about Periyar Dasan, about the trips he used to make to Thiruverkadu to meet the Professor. 'His criticisms were very blunt, aggressive; and I used hear him patiently. I allowed him to pour out fully. Then I would say my version in a humble way', he said in a feeble voice. I could visualise the scene. Moosa Kaka with his typical half smile and twinkling eyes countering the polemics of the professor in his own style!

He was one of the notable absentees in the recently held First State Conference of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in Trichy.
He could not make it because of ill health. But, a lot of people remembered him and fondly recalled pleasant memories. Ofcourse, if he had been there in Trichy he would have added colour to the event. When I mentioned this fact he concurred with it and mumbled something.
 He is yet to receive the Manattu Malar! - the conference souvenir!! He then hastily added, 'What am I to do with the souvenir? I cannot read now. I need a reader. Nowadays it is difficult to talk more than ten minutes.' Suddenly it dawned to me that I got him engaged in the phone for more than twenty minutes! I wished him and hung up.

Moosa Kaka is not the first Chennaiite who has provided திருப்பம் - turning point in some one's life. There are many more. I have read about one such Chennaiite or Madrasi. And this Madrasi had provided திருப்பம் - turning point in Maryam Jameelah's life. It is very fascinating and interesting.

His name is Janab C. Abdul Jaleel Sahib. He was a journalist, social activist, writer, translator and fruit vendor. He was Ameer-e-Muqami of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Madras in the 1950s.

He was a prolific writer and spirited reader. At those days he used contribute regularly to a monthly magazine 'Muslim Digest' published from Cape Town, South Africa. He used to translate the articles of Moulana Syed Abul A'la Moududi. 

He had translated Moulana Moududi's article 'Zindgi bath mout' - 'Life after death' - மரணத்திற்குப் பின்!. It was published in Muslim Digest monthly. (I have seen this copy in Halqa Office.) Margaret Marcus of New York read this article and wanted to contact and corespond with Moulana Moududi. She wrote to Muslim Digest people. They contacted C Abdul Jaleel. Jaleel Sahib and he provided the address of Moulana Moududi. Then Margaret Marcus contacted Moulana Moududi. Margaret Marcus became Maryam Jameelah.
And the rest is history.

Read : Periyar EVR's views on Islam! 

Read : Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan to Abdullah!
Read : Periyar Dasan Abdullah's journey towards Islam! 
Read : Periyar Dasan's wife to embrace Islam!
Read : Am I ready to face my Lord? 
Read : Periyar Dasan, Valampuri John and Islam!

Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan to Abdullah!

From 'slave of Periyar' to 'slave of Allah'!

Professor Periyar Dasan's real name was Seshasalam. He born in a Saivite family in Agaram village in erstwhile North Arcot District. His father is said to be close friend of Maraimalai Adigalar.

When he joined Pachaiyappas College in Chennai, Periyar EVR the legendary Dravidian leader visited his college. At that occasion he wrote a poem felicilating Periyar EVR. Periyar read it with keen interest and congratulated but remarked, 'The poem is good. But you have mentioned your name as Seshasalam. It sounds like a name of a Iyer - Brahmin'. At that instant Seshasalam then and there changed his name to Periyar Dasan, meaning 'slave of Periyar'.

Now after three four decades this 'slave of Periyar' has transformed into 'slave of Allah - Abdullah'

Throughout his life Periyar Dasan has been a staunch athiest. He used to criticise each and every religion. 'His criticisms were very blunt, aggressive; and I used hear him patiently. I allowed him to pour out fully. Then I would say my version in a humble way', opines Poet Moosa, literary advisor of Islamic Foundation Trust.

He embraced Buddhism a couple of years back. He has translated a book on Budhism in Tamil.
He had worked many years in the department of psychology in Pachaiyappas College. His wife too has worked in the same faculty there.

He is a gifted speaker and his speeches were full of wit and wisdom. He speaks naturally without any inhibitions and pretensions. He has got a vast circle of fans. He has acted in a award winning film on female foecticide 'Karuthamma'. He used to chair many discussions telecasted by various private television channels.

For the past ten years he had been in the search of acquainting himself with the Truth.

Read : Periyar EVR's views on Islam!
Read : Am I ready to face my Lord?

Read : Periyar Dasan Abdullah's journey towards Islam! 
Read : Periyar Dasan's wife to embrace Islam!
Read : Am I ready to face my Lord? 
Read : Periyar Dasan, Moosa Kaka and Maryam Jameelah! 
Read : Periyar Dasan, Periyar EVR and Islam!

Periyar Dasan's wife to embrace Islam!

Prof Abdullah(third from left) with the Makkal Urimai team.

Professor Periyar Dasan, now Professor Abdullah Sahib's wife has expressed her willingness to embrace Islam. 

Prof  Abdullah disclosed this in an interview. He is in Riyadh or somewhere in the Gulf now. 

He said,''As I wanted to embrace Islam in the holy land, I came here. My greatest desire was to visit Makkah and Madinah. I planned accordingly. This time I came here on my own expense. After embracing Islam I contacted my wife who is in Chennai. She was shocked. I told to her : 'There is no need for you to embrace Islam. I embraced Islam as I liked it. But, my only wish is that I want you to be my companion in the Day of Judgment கியாமத் நாள். (He uses the word கியாமத் நாள்.) Please ponder over it' She called me after ten minutes and said she would take a decision after consulting with my son"  Alhumdulillah!
Professor Abdullah's wife is also a professor in psychology.

Read : Periyar Dasan turns Abdullah! Indian Express's report by M Rafi Ahmed
Read : Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan to Abdullah!   A fascinating story of the transformation of a slave of Periyar to slave of Allah!
Read : Periyar Dasan, Moosa Kaka and Maryam Jameelah!

Periyar Dasan Abdullah's journey towards Islam!

Periyar Dasan, nay Janab Abdullah Sahib is a Muslim now and he has completed his Umrah too. His homecoming would be celebrated in a big way throughout the Tamil speaking world. For a beleagured community the pleasing, charming, enthralling news of conversion of a celebrity like Professor Periyar Dasan is a booster. It has energised the youth. It has enthused confidence. It has emboldened the faith in Allah. எல்லா புகழும் அல்லாஹ்வுக்கே!

We hope that Professor Abdullah Sahib would serve the Islamic cause in a big, big, big way. He has already hinted about it in his interview. He speaks about translating Haykal's book 'Road to Makkah'. But, 'Road to Makkah' was written by Leopold Muhammad Asad. And, Haykal's book was on the life history of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). He may have inadvertantly mixed the names of the author in his passion and emotion. One should understand that he has just made a momentous, life-changing decision of following the basic tenets of Islam.
No doubt he has come a long way to reach this point. He himself has said that in this interview. and in this interview.
The million dollar question is What made a staunch athiest like Periyar Dasan turn towards his Creator? What is the turning point? The following is the answer.

பெரியவர் தண்ணன் மூஸா (தொண்டியைச் சேர்ந்த கவிஞர் மூஸா) தான் எழுதிய சௌந்தர்ய முத்திரை என்ற புத்தகத்தை என்னிடம் தந்து அதற்காக அணிந்துரை எழுதி தருமாறு என்னிடம் கேட்டார். இது என்னுள் திருப்பம் ஏற்பட்ட இடமாகும். நானும் அந்த நுhலுக்கு அணிந்துரை எழுதித் தந்தேன். பின்னர் அவர் ஏன் அணிந்துரையை எழுதுவதற்காக என்னை ஏன் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தார் என்று பலமுறை யோசித்தேன். பின்னர் அவரை தொலைப்பேசியில் தொடர்பு கொண்டேன். அவர் ஐ.எப்.டி.யை சேர்ந்த சிக்கந்தர் என்ற சகோதரை அறிமுகப்படுத்தினார். அவருடன் சில சகோதரர்கள் வந்து என்னை என் இல்லத்தில் சந்தித்து இஸ்லாத்தை பற்றி விளக்கினார்கள். பின்னர் நான் பல புத்தகங்களை விலைக்கு வாங்கி அவற்றை வாசித்தேன். தினமும் 5 மணி நேரம் திருக்குர்ஆனை படிப்பதற்காக நான் நேரம் ஒதுக்கினேன். அப்போது இறைவன் இருக்கிறான் என்று எனக்கு உறுதியாகி விட்டது. 2004 ஆம் ஆண்டில் கடவுள் மறுப்பு பிரச்சாரத்தை முற்றாக நிறுத்திக்கொண்டேன். அதன் பிறகு நபிகள் (ஸல்) அவர்களின் ஹதீத்   நூற்களை ரஹ்மத் பதிப்பகம் முத்துப்பேட்டை முஸ்தபா அவர்கள் வெளியிட்ட போது ஏழு பாகங்களின் வெளியிட்டு விழாவிற்கும்; என்னை அழைத்தார்கள். என்னை ஏன் இவர்கள் அழைக்கிறார்கள் என்று எண்ணுவது உண்டு. நாத்தீகப் பிரச்சாரத்தை கைவிட்டது அவர்களுக்கு தெரியும். ஆனால் நான் இந்த தேடலில் இருப்பது அவர்களுக்கு தெரியாது. ரோடு டூ மக்கா என்ற ஆங்கில நுhலையும் படித்து அதனை மக்காவை நோக்கி என்ற பெயரில் தமிழில் மொழிபெயர்த்து வைத்துக் கொண்டேன். இப்படியே எனது ஆய்வு தொடர்ந்தது. அப்துஸ் ஸமது, லத்தீப் (கவிக்கோ) அப்துல் ரஹ்மான், ஜவாஹிருல்லாஹ் முதலியவர்களெல்லாம் எனது நண்பர்கள் தான். அவர்களுடன் எல்லாம் பழகியிருக்கிறேன். ஆனால் இனங்காட்டிக் கொள்ளாமல் எனது ஆய்வுகளை செய்து வந்தேன். சில பேருக்கு எனக்கு இந்த நாட்டம் உள்ளது என்பது தெரியும்.

Poet Tannan Moosa came with his book and asked me to write a preface for his boom 'Soundharya Muthirai'. It was the turning point in my life. I wrote preface for his book. Afterwards, I asked myself innumerable times 'Why did he chose me to write preface for his book?' I asked the revered poet himself. He came to see me along with Br S N Sikkander, of Islamic Foundation Trust. He and some of his friends came to my house and explained the salient features of Islam. I bought many books on Islam. I started reading Quran daily for Five hours. Then I got convinced that God EXISTS! Then I completely avoided delivering speeches on athiesm. Br Mustafa of Rahmath Charitable Trust has broughout seven volumes of Sahih Buhari in Tamil. He used to invite me for the book release functions. His gesture made me think. I used to wonder why these gentlemen invite me inspite of my athiestic background. I had excellant rapport with AKA Abdus Samad, M A Abdul Latheef, Kaviko Abdur Rahman, M. H. Jawahirullah etc.They are all my friends. I continued my search to acquaint myself with the Truth. They were not aware of my quest and only a few knew about my quench to know the Truth.

 Alhumdulillah! It is a pleasing, heartening news that an humble gesture of Moosa kaka would open the door of eternal success to a staunch athiest! Moosa Kaka, Well done! Moosa kaka has been the literary advisor of Islamic Foundation Trust and a confidant of Moulana M A Jameel Ahmed Sahib. S N Sikkander is now State Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. 

Read : நான் ஏன் இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டேன்?
Read : நான் ஏன் இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டேன்?  - excellent write up by Abu Umar, Jazakallah, Abu Umar!
Photos of Periyar Dasan's Jeddah speech click here.
Read : Periyar Dasan, Valampuri John and Islam!

Am I ready to face my Lord?

The Day...
It was 14th March, 2010, Sunday. The weather was salubrious and the train towards Chennai was moving fast...

The Train
The name of the train was Yelagiri Express. It usually departs from Tirupattur at 4.30 AM in the morning and reaches Chennai Central at 9.00 AM. It is known as JP Exp., Link Exp., etc. It is the most prefered train. It halts at Jolarpettai, Tirupattur, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Gudiyattam, Katpadi, Arakkonam etc, etc.
The train was full of all kinds of people - traders, businessmen, housewives, students, office-goers, teachers etc.

The Men...
Janab H Abdur Raqeeb Sahib, Janab P Muhammad Yousuf, Janab C Tufail Ahmed were among those in the train which was moving fast towards Chennai. They are all veterans of the Islamic Movement in this part of the world and have spent decades in the struggle to establish Deen in all walks of life.
The weather was pleasant and the three musafirs of rah-e-huq cherished every moment of the journey. They were at their best as they were proceeding to Chennai for an important event. They were attached to Islamic Foundation Trust and they were on their way to attend the bi-annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of Islamic Foundation Trust. They were engrossed in deep discussion..

The incident...
When the train screeched to halt in Katpadi Junction, Br P Muhammad Yousuf and Br C Tufail Ahmed alighted from the train to get a cup of tea. They were never aware of what lied ahead them.

It was just an usual day. They have alighted here for tea umpteen number of times.

Then it happened.
They were in the platform roaming here and there in search of tea vendor. But , Strangely they could not sight the ubiquitous tea vendor.

Seconds moved fast into minutes.
Suddenly the train started to move. Both the brothers hurried to enter the train. Br CTA got the foothold and was in the train. Br PMY too followed suit.

Alas..! It happened in a fraction of a second..!

Br P Md Yousuf slipped and fell..!
His legs got trapped in between the gap of the moving train and the platform...
And the departing train was moving gently..!
Br P Md Yousuf was shocked for a moment. But at the next instant, he tried to extract his trapped legs. He tried hard... But, he felt as if the train is pulling him to the pit.
1... 2... 3... 4... Four bogies passed him with his legs still trapped in between the train and the platform..!
Meanwhile, the onlookers gathered around him and instinctly tried to lift him..
Then in a spur of the moment he got his legs lifted and stood on his own.
The train was gaining momentum. The onlookers urged him to get in the train. He paused and declined to catch the train. In the melee, both his shoes fell in the railway track. Somebody dived into the empty track and procured the shoes for him. He thanked Almighty Allah and recovered his composure. Then he started to dial and inform everybody about the incident.

In the train..
CTA was in the train and he was startled by the happening. He rushed to pull the chain to stop the train. But the chain didn't budge a inch. Moments passed as ages. Then his phone blinked with the message, ''Yousuf calling..."

In Katpadi Junction..
Br P Muhammad Yousuf catched another train from Katpadi and reached Chennai one and half hour late. He drove straight to the IFT office. He attended the Trust meeting without giving a hint about the accident and got actively involved in the dicussions and proceedings.

The Lesson...
Moulvi Haneefa Manbayee loudly exclaimed, 'It is definitely a miracle. It is grace of Allah'
Br A Shabbeer Ahmed, Ameer-e-Halqa advised, 'Once when you cross 40 you should watch your steps and not behave like a 20 year old youth'.
Somebody opined, 'You have been saved because of some good deed in life'
I remained silent.

The real lesson...
I could not sleep that night. The incident splashed over my mental screen again and again. 'You have been saved because of some good deed in life' the words echoed in my ears.
Suddenly I got up from the bed and the words of Janab Maqsood Alam flashed in my mind nowhere. He too faced similar situation in his life. He too was given a new lease of Life. His friends too commented that he had been given a fresh lease of life because of some good deed in life. But Moulana Minnathullah Rahmani had a different view. He said had it been on account of some past good deeds he should have been better in heavens instead of this world! May be Allah wants him to add good deeds to his account by doing some specific noble job.

The greater lesson...
Is Yousuf is the lone person who has been given a fresh lease of life? No. Definitely not.
We are all at the mercy of Allah and we are all vulnerable to all kinds of accidents. It is Allah who saves us from calamity. He is the Muhaimin the guardian. He gives us new lease of life every second..!
What do we do with that new lease of life?
What has happened to Br P Muhammad Yousuf could happen to anyone of us anywhere, any time. But, are we ready to face them? Am I ready to face my Lord? That is the most crucial question.

Miyan Tufail Muhammad, the legendary Tahreeki icon of the sub-continent used to say, 'Apne rab say apna hisab saaf rakho! Ho sakta hai yeh tumhari zindgi ka aakhri din ho!' 'Keep your accounts with your Lord clean. who knows? Today may be your last day'

Khurram Murad in one of his speeches mentions, 'The heart in your body seeks the permission of your Lord to beat. When He grants the permission to beat, the heart beats. When He denies, your heart would stop to beat. When the denial would occur? When your heart would stop to beat? Nobody knows. Be eveready to face your Lord'.

Periyar Dasan has embraced Islam!

It is the most pleasant, sweet news of the decade.

Veteran scholar, orator and master of words Professor Periyar Dasan has embraced Islam. He is Professor Abdullah now. All praise to Allah.

According to ARAB NEWS he has planned to perform Umrah. The details of the report by MD RASOOLDEEN are as follows:

Dr. Periyadarshan, who has changed his name to Abdullah, told Arab News Friday that Islam is the only religion in the world that follows a book directly revealed from God.

He said that as a student of comparative religions he believes books of other faiths have not been directly revealed to mankind from God. He said the Holy Qur’an is still in the same format and style as it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) from Almighty Allah.

He also acted in the famous Tamil film “Karuthamma” about the killing of newborn baby girls in some remote villages in India. The production received national award from the Indian government.
“I was well known in India for my atheist theology and later I became to realize that religion is the only way out for human beings both in this world as well as in the hereafter,” he said.
Dr. Abdullah will be performing Umrah on Saturday on his first visit to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah

I remember the day when I first saw him speak in a Eid Milan programme or Seerah programme organised by the Vaniyambadi Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) people, some eighteen, nineteen years back. The memory of Vaniyambadi programme has etched in my memory because it was the first time wall posters of the function were pasted all over the town. The name பெரியார் தாசன் in big, big letters made a lasting impact in my mind.

And I met him five or six years before in connection with a seminar on Human Rights. It was an adventure as we chased his car following him from his office and met in some xerox shop. Unfortunately, he was not available for our dates and we missed his speech which was full of wit and wisdom.

Whenever we at JIH Chennai sit to organise dawah based programmes, invariably the name Periyar Dasan would crop up.

And now here comes the good news. Allah is Great.

Strangely, my mind is filled with the memories of Valampuri John now. He too was a legendery Tamil orator and prolific writer. He has penned a mesmerising book நாயகம் எங்கள் தாயகம் on the life history of Propher Muhammad (PBUH). It was written in poetic form and was very enchanting. He had also wrote another book on Islam ''இஸ்லாம் இந்த மண்ணுக்கேற்ற மார்க்கம்" He lavishly praised Islam. One could not forget his speech in the South India Conference of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind held at Bangalore in 1999. Moulana Ejaz Ahmed Aslam Sahib translated his speech then.

Unfortunately, Mr John was not blessed with the bounties of Islam. He passed away a non-believer. I had met him in his last days when he was recuparating from his disease in Porur Ramachandra Hospital. He had become very thin. His eyes, cheek, chin.. Oh! It was very pathetic. He was seeing death with his eyes.

We were there to visit him and for iyadat. He poured out his feelings. He said many things which are very personal. Suddenly he trembled and requested to read holy verses of Quran and blew over him. எனக்கு ஓதி ஊதி விடுங்கள்!, he said. In our group Janab K M Siraj Ahmed Sahib was the eldest. He volunteered and recited Ayats and duas and blew them over him. Mr John broke and cried silently. அவருடைய கண்களிலிருந்து கண்ணீர் வழிந்தோடியது! I could not forget that scene till this date.

Dr KVS Habeeb Muhammad was with us. He consoled him and uttered words of comfort. We returned with a heavy heart. We prayed for him.

Janab H Abdur Raqeeb was our Ameer-e-Halqa then. When he came to know about it, he literally packed up Moulana Qutbuddeen Ahmed Baqavi Sahib to Porur alongwith Arifullah Sahib to pray and offer spiritual solace to Mr John.

The ways of Allah are strange Indeed. He is the One who guides. It is His choice.


Read : Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan to Abdullah!
Read : Periyar Dasan Abdullah's journey towards Islam! 
Read : Periyar Dasan's wife to embrace Islam!
Read : Am I ready to face my Lord? 
Read : Periyar Dasan, Moosa Kaka and Maryam Jameelah!