P. K. Abdul Gafoor
Encyclopedia
P. K. Abdul Gafoor was the founding President of Muslim Educational Society
(MES) in Kerala
and one of the pioneers of education amongst the Mappila
community in Kerala. He was a medical doctor by profession and served as a Professor of Medicine at Calicut Medical College
. In 1964, Abdul Gafoor and a group of young educated Muslims established MES
at Calicut
, with the objective of cultural, educational and economic upliftment of Muslims. By 1984, it had grown the become the largest distributor of scholarship in India.
Gafoor died in 1984. His son, Dr. P. A. Fazal Gafoor is the current president of MES
.
Historian M. G. S. Narayanan opined on him as "one of tallest leaders of the Muslim community to take note of economic weakness of a large section of the community and make strenuous efforts towards their progress". The Annual Dr. Gafoor Memorial Lecture is held in his honour each year. The MES Dr P K Abdul Gafoor Memorial Cultural Complex at Kaloor
, Cochin housing the Cochin Stock Exchange
is also named in his honour.
Muslim Educational Society
The Muslim Educational Society is an organisation established to aid education of Muslims in India, especially in the state of Kerala.-History:The MES was founded in 1964 at Kozhikode by Dr. P. K. Abdul Gafoor. Gafoor's son P. A...
(MES) in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and one of the pioneers of education amongst the Mappila
Mappila
Mappila or Moplah refers to a Muslim community of Kerala, primarily in the northern region called Malabar, which arose in Malabar as a result of the pre and post Islamic Arab contacts. Significant numbers of the community are also present in the southern districts of Karnataka and western parts of...
community in Kerala. He was a medical doctor by profession and served as a Professor of Medicine at Calicut Medical College
Calicut Medical College
Calicut Medical College is a premier medical college located in the city of Kozhikode in Kerala, India. It was established in 1957 as the second medical college in the Kerala. Since then the institution has grown into a premier centre of medical education in the state...
. In 1964, Abdul Gafoor and a group of young educated Muslims established MES
Muslim Educational Society
The Muslim Educational Society is an organisation established to aid education of Muslims in India, especially in the state of Kerala.-History:The MES was founded in 1964 at Kozhikode by Dr. P. K. Abdul Gafoor. Gafoor's son P. A...
at Calicut
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, with the objective of cultural, educational and economic upliftment of Muslims. By 1984, it had grown the become the largest distributor of scholarship in India.
Gafoor died in 1984. His son, Dr. P. A. Fazal Gafoor is the current president of MES
Muslim Educational Society
The Muslim Educational Society is an organisation established to aid education of Muslims in India, especially in the state of Kerala.-History:The MES was founded in 1964 at Kozhikode by Dr. P. K. Abdul Gafoor. Gafoor's son P. A...
.
Historian M. G. S. Narayanan opined on him as "one of tallest leaders of the Muslim community to take note of economic weakness of a large section of the community and make strenuous efforts towards their progress". The Annual Dr. Gafoor Memorial Lecture is held in his honour each year. The MES Dr P K Abdul Gafoor Memorial Cultural Complex at Kaloor
Kaloor
Kaloor is a region in the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Kaloor is also the name of a major intersection in this region of the city, intersecting the two major arteries of downtown Kochi namely, the Banerji Road and the K. K. Road - Perandoor Road...
, Cochin housing the Cochin Stock Exchange
Cochin Stock Exchange
The Cochin Stock Exchange Limited is a capital stock market in Kochi, Kerala in India. Incorporated in 1978, it has now over 350Indian companies listed. CSBL a wholly owned subsidiary of CSE is a member of NSE and BSE.-Facility:...
is also named in his honour.