Commemorating a Pioneer of Reform and Public Reason
The idea of establishing a lasting memorial to Vakkom Moulavi—journalist, reformer, and a key figure in Kerala’s early 20th-century renaissance—first took shape in the late 1970s among a few committed intellectuals and members of his family. While Moulavi’s contributions to Muslim reform and Kerala’s public sphere were profound, his legacy had for long remained underrepresented in institutional memory.
A significant moment came with the publication of the Selected Works of Vakkom Moulavi in 1979 by Sri S. Mohammed Abda under the Vakkom Moulavi Publication. Abda, a respected educationist, not only revived public interest in Moulavi’s writings but also initiated discussions on establishing a memorial. Early consultations held in Vakkom and Thiruvananthapuram brought together a diverse group of admirers and professionals including Sri S.A. Majeed (former MLA), Dr. N.A. Karim (Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Kerala), Sri A. Shahul Hameed (Statistical Officer, Govt. of Kerala), Sri M. Basheer (social worker), Adv. Parayil Shamsuddin (lawyer), Dr. M.K. Bashir (medical doctor), Sri A. Suhair (Assistant Engineer, KSEB), Haji Mohammed Kannu (former teacher), Sri K.M. Bashir (ILO, Geneva), Sri. Muneer (Engineer, PWD), and Sri Mohammed Eeza (writer and former teacher).
These efforts culminated in the formation of the Vakkom Moulavi Foundation for Islamic Studies and Social Development in the early 1980s, with an organising committee chaired by Dr. A.N.P. Ummerkutty (Director, State Institute of Languages). Sri S. Mohammed Abda was Vice President, and Sri M Bashir served as Secretary and Sri A Suhair officiated as Treasurer. Other members of the Organising Committee were Dr. N.A. Karim, Sri A. Shahul Hameed, Adv. Parayil Shamsuddin, Dr. M.K. Bashir, Sri S.A. Majeed, Haji Mohammed Kannu, Sri K.M. Bashir (ILO, Geneva), and Sri Mohammed Eeza. The Foundation was later registered as a trust—Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust (VMFT)—in 1986–87 with the land donated by Sri. K.M. Bashir.
Despite this initial momentum, the vision of establishing a permanent institution in Moulavi’s hometown remained unrealised for nearly three decades.
That vision came to fruition in 2020 with the establishment of the Vakkom Moulavi Memorial and Research Centre (VMMRC)—the first institution of its kind in Vakkom dedicated to preserving and promoting his legacy. This milestone was made possible through renewed initiatives supported by public intellectuals and cultural leaders such as Sri B.R.P. Bhaskar, Dr. Rajan Gurukkal, Dr. Michel Tharakan, Smt. Sara Joseph, Adv. Irfan Engineer, Dr. B. Ekbal, Sri M.N. Karasseri, and others who lent their voice and patronage to the cause.
The VMMRC is conceived as a non-governmental, not-for-profit institution committed to commemorating the life and work of Vakkom Moulavi and advancing the values he espoused—critical inquiry, social justice, pluralism, and democratic engagement. It aims to foster a culture of intellectual responsibility by establishing a centre of research, dialogue, and documentation grounded in Kerala’s reformist tradition.
The Centre is currently developing a modern digital archive dedicated to the contributions of Kerala’s renaissance thinkers. It also aspires to become a vibrant hub for scholarly work and public discourse on themes such as social inclusion, cultural transformation, interfaith understanding, media ethics, and minority rights. VMMRC seeks to instil values of equality, fraternity, and communal harmony and to extend these ideals across all sections of society.
Among its core pursuits are: establishing a specialised library and documentation centre; publishing a comprehensive series on Kerala’s reform movements; contextualising Moulavi’s contributions within regional and national frameworks; organising annual memorial lectures (on 28 December); hosting seminars, conferences, and workshops; offering internships and research opportunities in social policy; and collaborating with academic institutions and public agencies on relevant studies. The Centre also plans to institute fellowships, awards, and endowments to support emerging talent and scholarship, and to maintain an active online presence through a dedicated website and periodic e-journal.
VMMRC represents a long-overdue institutional homage to one of Kerala’s most consequential public intellectuals—an effort not just to preserve the past, but to inspire new conversations on justice, knowledge, and reform.
