An introduction by Ayesha Mohamed, sister of A.M.Marikar on Marikar family tree.

The ancestry traced in this Family Tree has been through the help of the older members of the family and what parents have told us when we were children. The attempt by the late Mrs.Halima Buksh, daughter o T.C.H. Marikar, to trace the family tree in Ceylon, was not very successful. She was able to trace the family of Thambi Cannu Marikar up to a point. The dates are from our father, H.O.L.Marikar’s diary.

In 1937, when father took us, his older children to Ceylon, his birthplace, we met many Marikar relatives for the first time inColombo and Kandy. At that time we I had no idea or thought of tracing the family tree.
The visit to Ceylon was on the invitation of the Founder President of ‘the Young Women’s Muslim Association’, Mrs.M.A.C.Mohamed. She had heard of Abusha Marikar, the first Muslim woman from India to qualify in Medicine and get her M.B.B.S. degree. In Kandy, when the Muslims became aware of the fact that Abusha was the daughter of a son of their soil and a Marikar, a tremendous welcome was accorded to us on our visit there.
During our stay in Colombo, we were invited to Kandy. Mr.Aziz Marikar and others accompanied us. Father was emotionally overcome, when we were approaching Kandyby train, as he was visiting his place of birth after forty-five years. We were shown stretches of forested land that once belonged to his forefathers.
The vast stretches of jungle or forest land seems to have justified the title “Kattu Raja’’ of a forefather of whom appa (grandfather T.C.H.Marikar) was very proud. The following episode told by our parents proves his point.
When the eldest son was born to our very young parents (mother was only 14), appa named him “Kattu Raja Hassan Nainar”. The child died in its infancy. The second son was also named the same and he dide when he was hardly two years old. The third, to our parents’ great joy and relief, was a daughter and she was named “Abusha”, after appa’s favourite sister Hafsa. On the birth of the forth child, a son, before appa could arrive on the scene, our parents hurriedly named him “Abdul Majeed”. Never deterred, he appeared promptly on the birth of the fifth child, a son, whom he proudly named “Kattu Raja Hassan Nainar”. Our parents quaked with fear and apprehension. Thanks to God, all was well. Brother Hassan bore the name of his great great great grandfather to the joy of appa. Obviously, he omitted the “Kattu Raja Nainar” when he entered school! (He died in a plane crash near Agra in 1962, at the young age of 47).
I have undertaken to compile “The Marikar Family Tree” at the request of my brother Habeeb.
Getting the data of each branch of the family from one of its members has been interesting. Being in touch with some of ourSingapore and Malayasian cousins, I have been able to gather information of the past and present from them.
I have requested my brother, Shamshu, who helped me with this, to write the Family Tree, with his limericks, lampoons and lyrics that will positively make it more interesting to read than mine.
I have no doubt that there will be commissions and omissions that I have made while compiling this tree. Do forgive me.
The tree is well rooted by God’s grace.
I thank all those who have helped me in this effort by giving me their time, consideration and co-operation, the Marikar way!
Thank you
Sd (Ayesha Mohamed)
4 May 1983
Madras

Fond memories of a wise dad

(This article was published by Mariambi in a local Newspaper in USA, Camillus Herald American, on Sunday, June 18, 1995)

I don’t know whether any other country in the world has a day set aside as Father’s Day or Mother’s Day other than the United States. That was something that intrigued me when I emigrated from India, where there is only a day set aside as Children’s Day - to make people aware of the many neglected children.

This Father’s Day I want to pay tribute to my father, Abdul Majeed Marikar. Though he never came to this country, he had many ties to it. Our family ties to United States started when my grandfather, in the 1930’s became the first businessman in India to be a dealer for Ford cars and trucks and the Eastman Kodak Company. My father grew up learning about and loving the United States and its people. It was an affection that lasted his life.

Our home in southwestern India was haven for Peace Crops volunteers, and my father was like a father away from home for them and to many other young people. Nobody who came to our house ever left empty handed. because of father’s generosity. In addition to his own eight children, he always had room for someone else’s child to stay in our home and go to school.

Education was very important to dad. He believed that a country’s strength lay in the hands of its educated citizens. Every now and then, I come across a doctor or engineer from India, in this country, who benefited from my father’s generosity. What made my father a very special dad for us was that, to this day, each of us thinks that he or she was his favorite son or daughter. He loved us, trusted us and gave us the freedom which none of your peers enjoyed. The only condition was a responsibility, which we owed to ourselves. That was if you are not proud of talking or thinking about something that should deter you from doing it, whatever the temptation.

My father was a wealthy man who believed in sharing his knowledge and money with others. He enjoyed traveling, and I still wonder how he managed to travel with all of us. He took the time to show us the sights and to explain to each of us.

He also taught us to be adaptable and not demanding. This trait, I would say, has stood all of us in good stead in our different walks of life. My father believed in kindness and consideration and always said, ”These qualities begin at home, but shouldn’t end there”.

My father made many people’s dreams come true, but he always regretted that he had to give up college after two years to take over my grandfather’s business. He wasn’t cut out to be a businessman. He always dreamed of being a judge. In a way this dream was fulfilled because people in our town, who loved and trusted him, brought their problems to him instead of going to court, and most of them my dad resolved amicably.

He was actually involved in all community activities. He was sought by universities and industries to share his wisdom and knowledge on a variety of topics.

When he passed away, he left his children with his values plus a professional education. His vast collection of rare books and magazines went to universities to benefit others beyond the family ( a practice he always had followed).

I remember and admire him for the unconditional love he had for his own family and for others.  I consider him as a true citizen of the world.

MARIAM MARIKAR LUEBS
Camillus
Published by the Herald  company
Post office Box 4915
Clinton square, Syracuse, N.Y. 13221

H.O.L.MARIKAR (Father of A.M.Marikar)

Father was born in Kandy, Ceylon on 9th November 1882. He came to India with his mother and the rest of the family and appa settled them in Periyakulam. 

Vappa (father)’s education began in Periyakulam, where grandmother taught her children with others on the verandah of her home. When she died, struck by cholera, her children were taken to Kottayam to their stepmother’s house.
In Kottayam School, Vappa was a good pupil. He studied under the late Mr.Mamman Mappillai for whom he had great affection and respect. And this developed into a mutual thing as years went by. Vappa was the captain of the football team in his school.
It was difficult for vappa to study in his stepmother’s house. So appa send him to St.Joseph’s school in Trichinopoly, where he did his matriculation, but could not continue his studies further. His unhappy childhood and frustration in studies made him resolve that he would have a happy home and give his children the best of education, for which he strove and succeeded.
At 25, a romantic young man walked from Mundakayam to Peermade to get the consent of the formidable Ibrahim Kutty to marry his 11 year old niece. It was no hitchhike! His determination took him to Peermade through cart tracts in the jungle.With the blessings of the two uncles, vappa got married to their niece, Mariambi.
Vappa started his married life in Palar. He traded in small items like hosiery, and did not get any financial assistance from anybody. However, mother was taken to Peermade for the birth of the first four children.
Appa presented each of his sons with a pony from his stable (equivalent to a Honda or a B.M.W.now!!) Vappa appreciated this gift very much as he loved animals and the white beautiful pony became his companion. An envious hand set fire to his stable one night killing the 20 horses in it. Mother told us that vappa wept inconsolably, when he saw the helpless animals dying.
Our parents lost both their elder sons in Palar. Akka and brother Majeed were very small. In Palar, vappa took up part time work with the Munnar railways. He would walk the distance to Munnar early morning to keep time at the station. Some times on shifts, he would walk home late in the nights. There were no roads, no lights and the weather used to be freezing cold. In the eerie darkness, he would walk alone amidst the tall trees. Literally, we are reminded of Robert Frost’s poem
“The woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep…..”
By the grace of God, father went the miles and kept the promises. But one wonders if he thought so when he passed away at the age of 62.
Brother Hassan and I were born in Kallar, where vappa had taken up the distribution of supplies to the estates. Vappa’s greatest worry was the education of the children. There were no schools in Munnar. It was then that he had to take a major decision that would result in a lonely and hard life for him without the family in Munnar where he had moved. Thus Mother and we were settled in Trivandrum entirely for our schooling.
In Munnar he set up his own shop. His visits to Trivandurm and our holidays to Munnar were events that we looked forward to. The journey from Munnar was not as easy as it is now. From Top Station to Bodinayakkanoor the only way to travel was by trekking. We had to walk for seven miles through Korangani pathway. That journey was most interesting for us children. We used to carry curd rice and other home made eats for the way. Mother was carried in a ‘Doli’, if she felt tired. And at the end of the trail in Bodinayakkanoor, a hot meal and hospitality awaited us from father’s good friend, Sultan Rowther. The other choice was to travel by car through the snaky Udumalpet road, with its hairpin bends and curves, which was equally exciting. During those days ours was one of the first cars in the hills.
The colonial planters had envisaged only two roads to Madras Presidency from Munnar. One was the northern outlet to Udumalpet and the other to the northeast via Top station and Korangani to Bodinayakkanoor. There was an intended trace through Mankulam for connecting Munnar to the rest of the erstwhile Travancore. It was father, with his foresight, who met the Senior Maharani at Trivandrum and convinced her of the importance of opening the present Munnar Alwaye road via the now township of Adimali and Neriyamangalam. For this meritorious service, the late Sir.C.P.Ramaswami Iyer, the then Divan of Travancore, creditably commended him.
When we were in Trivandrum, came the devastating floods in Munnar, in 1924. The township which nestled on the banks of the river was washed away and with it vappa’s shops, and all his hopes and dreams. M/s James Finley of Scotland, the colonial planters, was in two minds about continuing their activities after the floods. However, Mr.Pinches, the then G.M. in Munnar, an obstinate Scot insisted on re building the plantation and their company from the ruins. A personal friend of vappa’s, and in who he had immense confidence, Mr.Pinches threw a challenge to him, of taking up the Herculean task of reconstructing a new township and other contract works such as the roads and bridges etc. With his indomitable courage and determination, vappa took up the challenge and with his capacity for hard work, the town was rebuilt in record time. His work was highly lauded by the company, both in Munnar and in Scotland. This was the turning point in vappa’s life.
The floating of Marikar & Co. was the next step. His reputation for honesty and integrity, made friends and the public rallyround him. This was the forerunner of all the other Marikar Organizations that were to follow over the years. The rapid growth of Marikar & Co., under his management, enabled father to take up the Ford Agency in 1933, blazing a glorious trail.
Setting his eyes on further horizons he expanded the business by floating Marikar Motors Ltd. in Trivandrum in the year 1940-41. The first branch was in Kottayam. However, none can forget the convoy of Lorries that plied between Alwaye and Munnar, daily transporting tea and other commodities, under the banner of Marikar Transports based at Perambavoor. It was not an easy achievement, considering the fact that those were the lean years of World War II.
Meanwhile the family had grown and our education was still father’s greatest concern. Akka (Abusha) had finished schooling successfully in Trivandurm and her Intermediate course in Queen Mary’s College, Madras, where she did well in sports also, winning a medal for Tennis. Her ambition and determination was to become a doctor. She would not consider marriage proposals and joined the Madras Medical College with the blessings of our parents. She was the first Muslim woman to do so in 1930. It created uproar amongst the Muslim community as there were many who believed that female education was against the religion. Vappa stood every type of harsh and unkind criticisms and even physical threats. Akka finished her M.B.B.S, D.G.O. and M.D. to the great delight and pride of our parents. She then joined the Madras Medical Service and later rose to be the first woman Director of Medical and Health Services in the State. She was also the first woman to be the D.M.S. in the whole of India.
The rest of us had the best of education in good schools and colleges. Suri, Habeeb and Shamshu were sent to Madras. Shamshu was only 4 at the time.
Separation from the children was not easy for mother. However, her love for them and their future and her implicit faith and trust in vappa’s judgment made her accept her loneliness. Vappa appreciated her understanding and courage. Every year he made it a point to take her to Madras to spend the time with the children.
Vappa was a visionary in the field of education. He was of the view that emancipation of women especially Muslims could be achieved only through education. To this end he worked and contributed whatever he could. He helped many with scholarships and financial assistance. Mother supported him wholeheartedly in these activities.
He had definite views on marriage. He was a pioneer against the dowry system and he was strongly against polygamy. He would not condone a second marriage while the first wife was living, perhaps due to the memories of his own childhood.
Vappa was a patriot. He was an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi. He spoke and discussed with us the happening in India at the time. He encouraged akka to take part in the Swadeshi Movement, while she was in the Madras Medical College. He did not miss and opportunity to take his family to attend the Congress meetings held at Madras by the great leaders of that time.
It was owing to his exemplary character and discipline that he was appointed as a member of the Legislative Council by the Government of Travancore. 
When the Munnar business was stabilized, father wanted to concentrate on expanding the business in Trivandrum. With this in view he built a house in Pattom and moved in with mother. It was a staggering blow to vappa when mother suddenly passed away on 18th May 1942 of a heart attack in Trivandrum while he away in Munnar. She was only 48.
In conclusion, vappa was one of those rare personalities. His courage and determination, his stamina for hard work, and stubbornness in his outlook to his principles in life were qualities that endeared him to every one. Though he was deeply religious, he never did flaunt it around. His sentiment in this area culminated in his initiating the building of the only mosque in Munnar (the only one even today-1991).
Father was never the same after mother’s death. His health suffered as he neglected it. She was the one who mattered most in his life, some one, who inspired, trusted and respected him. A companion who stood by him, especially in the early days of his pioneering struggles in the lonely and Malaria and danger ridden hills of Munnar. His end also came prematurely, two years after mother’s demise.

During his short illness, he would call out to Allah and repeat the name of his beloved Mariam. He passed away on the 5th of April 1944 and was buried in the Palayam Mosque next to Mother. As he breathed his last, father recited the kalima-La Ilaha Illallah…La Ilaha Illallah…La Ilaha Illallah.

(Signed) Ayesha Razi Mohamed Madras Dated: 16/12/91

AYESHA MARIKAR (Grandmother of A.M.Marikar)

Left behind in Kandy with her six children, grandmother could not have been the happiest of women. She no doubt found the difficulties of bringing up the children with their father across the seas. The money that he sent her, some times did not reach her. Being excellent in needlework, and teaching, she managed the household on her own in the beginning. However when it became difficult to cope any longer, she took the bold decision to come to India. Appa settled her and the children in Periyakulam where he had a trading post. Another reason to choose Periyakulam was because it was in Madras Presidency, a Tamil speaking area and grandmother’s language was Tamil. But above all it was far away from Kottayam!!

Grandmother evidently made her peace and her home in Periyakulam. Father (H.O.L.Marikar) was 10 years old at that time. She taught the neighbouring children and her own, on the verandah of her home and continued her needlework.
This life of quiet acceptance, patience, strength and courage came to an end. Grandmother and her elder son were struck by cholera in a cholera epidemic. After her death the children were taken to their stepmother’s house.

T.C.H.MARIKAR - Grandfather of A.M.Marikar

Herewith a short sketch of our esteemed, illustrious and colourful grandfather. Adventurous and romantic, perhaps, would describe him better.

He was born in Kandy, Ceylon in 1852. He belonged to an aristocratic family of ancestral landlords. In a family of eight, he was the second son of Thambi Cannu Marikar. He took his initials from his father’s name and was known as T.C.H.Marikar.
*He was a sportsman and an athlete, his favourite game being football. Once while he was playing, the ball went into the school ground next door. It was when he went to pick it up that he met his future wife who was a teacher there.[1]* She was a padre’s daughter. They got married with much opposition from the powerful Marikars and the Christian community. Her married name was Ayesha. She[2] was said to be of attractive features, gentle, soft-spoken and very intelligent. She was well versed in the Bible and in the Quran. She bore him six children.
Trade and the spirit of adventure brought appa (T.C.H.) to India. With his business acumen, he successfully built up his trade between India and Ceylon. He came to South India and established himself in the then States of Travancore and Cochin (Kerala) and parts of Madras Presidency (Tamil Nadu). Travelling between India and Ceylon could not have been easy sailing in the eighties. He owned 26 dhows and did regular trips. In Travancore, he was attracted to Mundakayam and Peermadu. Perhaps, it was the scenic beauty and climate of these places and their similarity to Ceylon that attracted him.
[3]*He started his business in Kottayam where he had a supermarket of sorts. He used to go to the mosque on horseback* and that is when he fell in love with the Syrian Christian lady, who was renowned for her beauty and specially her long & flowing tresses. She used to watch him from the threshold of her house. One day, he carried her away on his horse. This lady, Kunjamma, was already married and had a child too, but nothing prevented the progress and fulfillment of their great romance. They married to the utter dismay, anger and embarrassment of the Syrian Christian, ‘Chowkaparambil family’, to which she belonged. Kunjamma’s married name became Mariambi. They stayed in Kottayam for some time and later settled down in Rich Grove estate in Mundakkayam.
He set up his son Kasim in business in Mundakayam. It was then that Kasim was married to Meera whose daughter Mymoon was given in marriage in Ceylon. Appa evidently wanted to maintain his connection with his homeland. His daughter Halima was married to his brother Manzoor Shah’s son Muqaddam Shah. On his death she was married to Buksh in Ceylon. Ummukulsu, another daughter was married to Jain, who was employed in a tea plantation Company inCeylon and later came and settled down in theHigh Ranges of Travancore. Nachiar and Amina were also given in marriage in Ceylon. Both of them were widowed early, and as was the custom in Ceylon, the daughters came back to live in their parent’s home in Peermedu.
Appa later met the two brothers Ibrahim Kutty and Abdul Khader, who hailed from Kannur and were doing business in Peermedu. They became good friends. Their friendship culminated in marriage alliances between the two families.
Later on appa sold his property in Kottayam and invested in a large acreage of land in Mundakayam. Even during his life time portions of it were taken away for bridges, roads etc. He built a big comfortable house in ‘Rich Grove Estate’ where Mariam and the children lived and is still the home of that branch of the family.
Peermade and Mundakayam were little known areas, with virgin forests and malaria-ridden jungles. Only the pioneering spirits of a few daring British planters and people like appa that opened new vistas of development in these places. Appa foresaw the potentialities of Peermade and made it his business centre and did a flourishing business.
Being an enthusiastic equestrian with a great love of horses, he prided himself in his horses and stables. His horsemanship won him a lot of friends among the British and he enjoyed this great recreation.
In 1920, after his youngest daughter Saffa’s marriage, appa passed away peacefully. He was laid to rest in that part of his ‘Rich Grove’ estate in Mundakayam, which he had set aside for a family graveyard.
A unique personality, a daring pioneer of exemplary courage and foresight with a spirit of adventure and romance who was a link to two colonial countries of the British, he died inIndia, the land of his adoption. Thus ended the spirited zestful life of T.C.H.Marikar, born inKandy, Ceylon and laid to rest inMundakkayam, India.

[1] * to* data collected by Shamshu Mohamed Ali in 2001, when he was working in Sri Lanka as construction engineer

[2] Much later, ie in the late 1940s, her brother and his son Chelliah writer and family migrated to Munnar and settled down there. The son was employed in Marikar & Co and the family was very close to H.O.L.Marikar and our vappa, Majeed Marikar. His children, Avaranji and others were our playmates in Munnar.

[3]*.* Ummer sacha’s account fortified by Elsy, grand daughter of Kunjamma’s first daughter, in October 9

IBRAHIM KUTTY & ABDUL KHADER OF KANNUR (GRAND UNCLES)

In Peermade settled two handsome stalwart Moplah brothers with their young widowed sister and her baby daughter. They belonged to the Mannankadiyan family of Cannanore (Kannur). Ibrahim Kutty, the elder brother built up a thriving bakery business and Abdul Khader a flourishing general store. In an upcoming town like Peermade, they did very well. They were deeply religious and prominent Muslims of the place and were loved and respected for their generosity and large heartedness. They were plain spoken and forthright. Ibrahim Kutty (Periya mama) with his towering height and fiery temper was a personality to reckon with. Abdul Khader (Chinna mama), ever the younger brother, with his quiet sense of humour, lived a peaceful life.

T.C.H.Marikar and the two brothers became fast friends and in them he found eligible husbands for his daughters by Ayesha.
Periya mama married Salha, appa’s eldest daughter. She died at childbirth.
Salha’s sister Nachiar, who had lost her husband and her two infants in a tragic fire accident, was then married off to Periya mama, the young widower. They had six children. Nachiar died at childbirth when the youngest, Hameed, was born. Then her sister Amina, who had left her Ceylonese husband and was living in Peermade, was married off to periya mama to take care of the children. They had eight children.
Periya mama, in his late years, married Kulsumbi an urdu speaking Muslim and had 4 children by her.
Appa’s and grandmother Ayesha’s youngest daughter Zaithoon was married to chinna mama. They had eleven children.
The tie between the Moors and the Moplahs was further strengthened by father (H.O.L.Marikar) marrying Mariambi, the beautiful little niece of the brothers. They had eleven children.
Periya mama was a forceful character till the end. He suffered from rheumatism in his old age. He died in 1935 and was buried in the family graveyard in Peermade in his property. Chinna mama died in Trivandurm in 1950?

A family photo from the files

Seated: Habeeb Marikar, Abdul Majeed Marikar (father of Zulaiha Marikar) with Thampi (Habeeb Marikar) on his lap, Razi Mohamed, H.O.L Marikar with Zulaiha Marikar on his lap, Dr Abusha Marikar, Shamshudeen Marikar Standing: Ummusalma Marikar (mother of Zulaiha Marikar), Aysha Razi Mohamed, Suraiya Marikar, Hassan Marikar

Did Vappa live ahead of his time?

Can anyone live ahead of one’s time? According to Vappa’s friends and those who moved along with him say he did.

Since I cant agree with this, I wanted to check why they say so. But I could make an analysis of it only after Vappa departed us and that too recently. I had to study about it because he still lives with me as a man of today and not as a man of yesterday! If any doubt arise on any matter that looks complex to me, I imagine what Vappa would have done to get over the problem. I used to get the right solution in nine out of ten cases.

The reason for people to think he was a man of tomorrow was that he was a living encyclopedia for them. He had deep knowledge on many matters because he read books and all popular magazines, Indian and foreign, his books library was a very large one. Above which he used to travel a lot and mixed with people of high intelligentsia.

Though not that rich, very unique home appliances, communication tools, cameras, cars and motor bikes went through his hands. Mind that it was a time there were no computers or mobile phones. Every thing was mechanical and electronics was just showing its head up here and there. He had very sophisticated mechanical wonders for playing records, for talking to people working elsewhere, for taking photographs, printing and processing, stitching clothes, knitting etc. Apart from these, Vappa was a good shooter  and used to play Tennis, Billiards etc. Even the very rich and the Britishers who were ruling India at that time didn’t have all these together at the same time.

In short he was a extra ordinary man even by today’s standards, but was so simple and unassuming that every one who met him liked him. This was what our Vappa was.

Vappa was more or less a hero in our region and could end disputes of people regardless of what faith they followed. There is no wonder why he was nominated by the then chaste and undevided Congress party to stand for election and became MLA of the first ministry of Travencore Cochin State. (Kerala State was formed later). He was also chosen as a religious leader. He became President of Jamaath Federation of Kerala but also became the Waqf Board President.

I think all these factors lead people to consider him as a man ahead of his time.

- Habeeb Thampi

Dynamic Leadership (1914-1984)

Mr. Abdul Majeed Marikar was the eldest son of our founder Mr. HOL Marikar. He was born on the 10h of July, 1914, in Peerumade. ldukki district.

Before joining the family business, he helped his father by assisting in the management of the vast family plantations. Soon after the demise of his father in 1944, Mr. Majeed Marikar donned the mantle of the Chairman of Marikar and Sons Ltd. Though blessed with great business acumen and foresight, he was dominated by his interest in working for the society. In 1970 he relinquished his position in the company as the Chairman Director of Marikar and Sons Ltd and lvlarikar (Motors) Ltd and devoted himself to social work.

He was a member of the Travancore - Cochin Legislative Assembly from 1948 to 1952. In the following years, he also served as the President of the Travancore State Mustim League and the Jamaath Federation and headed the WAQF Board as its Chairman.

Mr. Majeed Marikar. was a voracious reader ard a good public speaker. His phenomenal knowledge and mastery over four languages, despite not completing his college education, bore ample testimony to his intellect and brilliance. Even in those days when gender discrimination was common, his writings and speeches often reflected his staunch support for women's education as well as equal status in the social fabric of life.

Being well versed in the teachings of all major religions, Mr. Majeed Marikar had a profound insight and deep compassion towards humanity. He was a deeply religious man and continuously strived for the upliftment and the betterment of the Muslim community in Kerala, which was, at the time, both educationally and socially backward. He was the pioneer in the translation of the first fifteen chapters of the Holy Quran into Malayalam & wrote several books on lslam.

He was an active member of the Madyanirodhan Samithi, Tamil Sangam & Asan Smaraka Samithi of Perambavoor, where he lived most of his life. He was also founder member of Akshara Sloka Samithi and the Swathi Thirunal Music Association of Perambavoor as also a member of the Alwaye Sangeetha Sabha

Mr. Majeed Marikar passed away on the 30h October 1984 in Trivandrum, and is survived by his brother, wife, six daughters, two sons and several grand children and great grand children.

Marikar Newsletter "Behind the Wheel (for Internal circulation only)"
[Vol 2 (April-June 2005) Page 2 & 4] - Collector Mariambi  

Vappa's craze for Music and Dance

One of my childhood memories of Vappa was his craze for dance and music. Though not  heard him sing any song completely, he used to hum songs and talk about songs and dances to us and his friends.

He could tell out raagas of classical songs and could easily locate whenever the artist mixes up ragas or goes wrong while singing.

 Many time I found him analyze the lyrics especially of “thathuva paadalkal”.

When I was too small the songs put in the house was mostly classical. 

M.S.Subbalekshmi was his favorite artist. If I remember correctly he took the car and headed to Madurai just for attending a concert of hers (Madurai was  280 Km away from Perumbavoor). He also had the full collection of M.S songs  in the form of 10” and 12”  78 RPM records. 

To listen to the songs repeatedly without bothering about the size of records,  he had a very sophisticated Swiss made “Thorens” record changer. It could play a set of 10 records on both sides repeating any side to number of times set manually. We had this mechanical wonder in the 1950-55 period, a  time everything was  mechanical  and electronic controls were unheard of.

Other artists he was interested in was M.L.Vasanthakumari, D.K Pallammal, K.B Sundarambal, M K Thyagaraja Bhagavather and S G Kittappa.

Talking of Hindi, he was a fan of K M Saigal, Pankaj Mallik and Suraiya. I am told sister Zulaiha will not go to sleep unless she was put  “Soja Raja Kumaree” sung by Saigal.

Vappa  was crazy of dance also. Then famous were Kamala Lakshman and Alleppey sisters (Lalitha Padmini and Ragini).

I remember having gone with him for the film “Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955)” a super duper dance and song movie which won the Filmfare Best Movie Award acted by Gopi Krishna and Sandhya.

More will be added to this blog book later.

Vappas favourite songs

Chittukkuruvi Town Bus (1955) - https://youtu.be/eaLLqucq3UE
 

Mappillai vanthan Town Bus (1955) - https://youtu.be/x1Zi607BPwY

O Rasikkum Shermane Parasakthi (1952) - https://youtu.be/3w4MAmf7Pog

Eratha Mali Thanile Thookku Thookki (1954) - https://youtu.be/0B2wSmSp_Oc

Meyatha maan Sree Valli (1945) - https://youtu.be/-yfF-ek8tec

Kathayai kelada ML Vasanthakumari  Thai Ullam  (1952) https://youtu.be/m_-Obun6nys

Bhoomiyil Maanida  MK Thyagaraja Bhagavather Ashok Kumar (1941)  https://youtu.be/zqppQKX9eXo

 

The cars Vappa Had

Vappa was well known for the Studebaker cars he owned. The olive green colour 1947 model Studebaker Champion (TCK 1111) was his favourite. He did not change that car for nearly 5 years. Driver Kuriakose was considered part of the car!. He later had a1948 model Studebaker commander along with a huge 1947 model Chevrolet. A1955 model Studebaker Commander was with him for some time and and the last one was the 1956 model Studebaker President. This metallic green colour car with white band on the sides was so majestic that the only other car in Kerala state was owned by the Maharaja of Travancore..

He always had more than one car in his possession, which very rich people at that time could not imagine of. Some time in 1953 he had a Hindustan Ambassador, a Chevrolet, a Ford war time jeep and a Desoto station wagon. Though not owned the rarest of the rare Armstrong Siddeley was in his hands for a long time. The car made by a British aircraft company was of all aluminium body with a very long hood powered by rare straight eight cylinder engine with a reserve tank for petrol since the mileage was very low (3Km per litre).

To visualise the cars he had, samples are copied from Internet

(Incomplete)

Unique gadgets Vappa had

Thorens Reclord Changer (Double side player) had auto record sensor, repeat play, auto speed selection for 10" -78rpm, 7" -45rpm  and 12" - 33 rpm records with  settings for skip, repeat etc., at a time all operations were mechanical (much before electronics came in)

Zenith Record changer with Snake's head oick-up

Ecko Valve Radio

The first Grundig Tape recorfer we had

Wire recorder (Which came before the Tape recorder)

*  *  *  This blog is incomplete (needs additions and re-arrangement) *  *  *

A write up by daughter's son Anwar Sayed of Sheik Fareed Saheb.

അബ്ദുള്‍ മജീദ്‌ മരിക്കാര്‍..

വിസ്മൃതിയുടെ  ആളൊഴിഞ്ഞ തുരുത്തിലേക്ക് ഒരിക്കലും വലിച്ചെറിയപ്പെടരുതാത്ത  ഈ മഹത് വക്തിത്വത്തിന്റെ നൂറ്റിയൊന്നാം ജന്മദിനമാണിന്ന്..

സിലോണിലെ (ശ്രീലങ്ക) കാന്‍ഡിയില്‍ നിന്നും വന്‍കിട ബിസ്സിനസ്സ്-നിര്‍മാണസംരഭകനായി ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് ഇന്ത്യയിലെ കേരളത്തിലെത്തിയ H O L മരിക്കാരുടെയും മറിയം ബീവിയുടെയും പ്രഥമ പുത്രനായി മജീദ്‌ മരിക്കാര്‍ 1914 ജൂലായ് പത്തിന് ഇടുക്കിയിലെ പീരുമേട്ടില്‍ ജനിച്ചു.

മൂന്നാറിലെ പ്ലാന്‍റെഷന്‍ വികസനത്തിലൂടെയും നിര്‍മാണപ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങളിലൂടെയും വന്‍ ബിസിനസ്സ് സംരഭകനായി മാറിയ H O L മരിക്കാര്‍, അമേരിക്കന്‍ നിര്‍മിത ഫോര്‍ഡ് കാറുകളുടെയും ട്രക്കുകളുടെയും ഇറക്കുമതി ലൈസന്‍സ് 1930 ല്‍ നേടുക വഴി രാജ്യത്തെതന്നെ പ്രമുഖവ്യവസായികളില്‍ ഒരാളായി മാറി. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ പഠനത്തിലും പഠനേതര വിഷയങ്ങളിലും അതീവമിടുക്കനായിരുന്ന മജീദ്‌ മരിക്കാര്‍ക്ക് മികച്ചൊരു ജഡ്ജ് എന്ന മോഹം പാതി വഴി  ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് രണ്ടുവര്‍ഷം നീണ്ട തന്‍റെ കോളേജ് വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാക്കാനാവാതെ പിതാവിനോടൊപ്പം കുടുംബവ്യവസായത്തിലേക്കിറങ്ങേണ്ടി വന്നു.

1944 ല്‍ പിതാവിന്റെ നിര്യാണത്തോടെ മരിക്കാര്‍ ആന്‍ഡ്‌ സൺസ് പ്രൈവറ്റ് ലിമിറ്റഡ്ന്‍റെ ചെയര്‍മാനായി മജീദ്‌ മരിക്കാര്‍ അവരോധിതനായി. ഇതിനോടകം തന്നെ ഉജ്വലവാഗ്മിയായും പുരോഗമനചിന്തകനെന്നനിലയിലും അറിയപ്പെട്ടു കഴിഞ്ഞിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹം തന്‍റെ മുപ്പത്തിനാലാം വയസ്സില്‍ 1948 ലെ തിരു-കൊച്ചി നിയമസഭയില്‍ M L A ആയി തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെട്ടു. 1952 വരെ ആ പദവിയില്‍ തുടര്‍ന്ന അദ്ദേഹം, ആ വര്‍ഷം തന്നെ ഇന്നത്തെ മുസ്ലിം ലീഗിന്റെ പഴയ പതിപ്പായിരുന്ന ട്രാവന്‍കൂര്‍ സ്റ്റേറ്റ് മുസ്ലിംലീഗിന്റെ അധിഷേധ്യ പ്രസിഡണ്ടായി.

പെരുമ്പാവൂരിനെ മുനിസിപ്പാലിറ്റിയാക്കാന്‍ അക്ഷീണം പ്രവര്‍ത്തിച്ചിരുന്ന തികച്ചും മതേതരനായ അദേഹത്തിനെതിരെ മതവിഭാഗീയത വളര്‍ത്തി സ്വന്തം ഇടവക ജനങ്ങളെ തെറ്റിദ്ധരിപ്പിച്ച് അന്നത്തെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ-സാമൂഹികപൊതുവേദിയില്‍ നിറഞ്ഞ് നിന്നിരുന്ന ഒരു നിയമന്ജനും, ധനാഢ്യനും ചേര്‍ന്ന് നടത്തിയ ഗൂഡാലോചന വിജയം കണ്ടില്ലായിരുന്നെങ്കില്‍ 1953 ജൂണ്‍ 30ന് നിലവില്‍ വന്ന പെരുമ്പാവൂര്‍ നഗരസഭയുടെ പ്രഥമ ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ മറ്റൊരാളാവുമായിരുന്നില്ല.

പിന്നീട് ജമാഅത്ത് ഫെഡറേഷന്‍റെ തലവനായി തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപെട്ട അദ്ദേഹം, ദീര്‍ഘകാലം വഖഫ്ബോര്‍ഡ് ചെയര്‍മാനായി സ്തുത്യര്‍ഹമായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഈ ഭരണകാലയളവിലാണ് മുസ്ലിം വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ വ്യവസ്ഥിതിയില്‍, പ്രത്യേകിച്ചും വനിതാവിദ്യാഭ്യാസമേഖലയില്‍ സ്ഫോടനാത്മകമായ മാറ്റംസംഭവിച്ചത്.
ഇന്ന് കേരളമൊട്ടാകെ അലയടിക്കുന്ന മുസ്ലിം വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ ഉന്നതിയുടെ ഉണര്‍വ് അതില്‍ നിന്നുണ്ടായതാണന്നത് തര്‍ക്കമറ്റകാര്യമാണ്.

പെരുമ്പാവൂര്‍ കണ്ടന്തറ സ്കൂള്‍ തുടങ്ങി അര ഡസ്സനോളം സ്കൂളുകളും അടിമാലി ടൗണ്‍ ജുമാമസ്ജിദ് ഉള്‍പ്പടെ അനേകം പള്ളികളും അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ശ്രമഫലമായി ഉണ്ടായിട്ടുള്ളതാണ്. അദ്ദേഹം മദ്ധ്യകേരളത്തിലെ പള്ളികള്‍ക്കായുണ്ടാക്കിയ നിയമവ്യവസ്ഥകളടങ്ങിയ ബൈലോ ആണ് കേരളത്തിലെഭൂരിപക്ഷം പള്ളികളിലും ഇന്നും പിന്തുടരുന്നത്.

ചരിത്രരേഖകളും അപൂര്‍വഅമൂല്യ ഗ്രന്ഥങ്ങളും അടങ്ങിയ അക്കാലത്തെ ഏറ്റവും വിപുലമായ സ്വകാര്യ ലൈബ്രറിക്കുടമയായിരുന്ന അദേഹത്തെ പല യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റികളിലും പ്രഭാക്ഷകനായി ക്ഷണിച്ചിരുന്നു.
മറ്റു മതങ്ങളെകുറിച്ചും വ്യവസ്ഥിതികളെകുറിച്ചും അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് പരിജ്ഞാനമുള്ളതിനാല്‍ ജാതിമതഭേദമന്യേ മധ്യസ്ഥതക്കും മറ്റു ഉപദേശങ്ങള്‍ക്കും ജനങ്ങള്‍ അദേഹത്തെ സമീപിച്ചിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം സ്വപ്നം കണ്ടിരുന്ന ഒരു ന്യായാധിപനെപോലെ പ്രശ്നപരിഹാരത്തിനുള്ള അവസാനവാക്കായി അവര്‍ അദേഹത്തെ കണ്ടിരുന്നു.

ലോകചരിത്രത്തില്‍ ആദ്യമായി പരിശുദ്ധ ഖുര്‍ആന്‍ മലയാളപരിഭാഷ അച്ചടിച്ചതിന് അനുഗ്രഹമാകാന്‍ പെരുമ്പാവൂരിന്റെ മണ്ണിനു ഭാഗ്യമുണ്ടായത്തിന്റെ നിര്‍ണായകശക്തി മജീദ്‌ മരിക്കറായിരുന്നു. V P ഷെയ്ക്ക് ഫരീദ്,C N അഹമ്മദ് മൗലവി, മുഹമ്മദുള്ള മാസ്റ്റര്‍ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പത്നി ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ആദ്യത്തെ മുസ്ലിം പത്രാധിപര്‍ ഹലീമബീവി എന്നിവരടങ്ങിയ അക്കാലത്തിലെ വിപ്ലവചിന്തകരുടെ പുരോഗമനആശയങ്ങളെ അച്ചടിമഷിപുരട്ടി ജനങ്ങളിലെത്തിച്ചിരുന്നത് മജീദ്‌ മരക്കാരുടെ ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലുള്ള 'ന്യൂ പ്രിന്റിംഗ് ഹൗസ്' എന്ന പ്രസ്സില്‍ നിന്നായിരുന്നു.
1955 ല്‍ തുടക്കംകുറിച്ച 'അന്‍സാരീസ്' എന്ന മാസിക മുസ്ലിംസമുദായത്തില്‍ നവോദ്ധാനത്തിന്റെ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുയത്തി മുന്നേറിയത്, ഇംഗ്ലീഷ്ഭാഷ  മുസ്ലിങ്ങള്‍ പഠിക്കുന്നതും, ഖുര്‍ആന്‍ മലയാളത്തിലാക്കുന്നതും കഠിനമായ ദൈവനിന്ദയായികണ്ടിരുന്ന അന്നത്തെ യാഥാസ്ഥികസംഘടനകള്‍ക്ക് സഹിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുന്നതിലുമപ്പുറമായിരുന്നു.

ഇന്നത്തെ പെരുമ്പാവൂര്‍പട്ടണത്തിലെ ശങ്കരയ്യര്‍ വസ്ത്രശാലയ്ക്ക് തൊട്ട് പടിഞ്ഞാറ്ഭാഗത്ത്‌ പ്രവത്തിച്ചിരുന്ന ആ പ്രസ്‌ അച്ചടി പൂര്‍ത്തിയാക്കിയ പതിനഞ്ചോളം അധ്യായങ്ങളുടെ ഖുര്‍ആന്‍ മലയാള പരിഭാഷകളും അനേകകോപ്പി അൻസരീസ് മാസികയുമായി അന്നത്തെ ആയിരകണക്കിന് രൂപയുടെ നഷ്ടത്തില്‍ അഗ്നിക്കിരയാക്കിയ മുസ്ലിംയാഥാസ്ഥികസംഘടനകള്‍ തന്നെ, ഇന്ന് അതേ പരിഭാഷകളിറക്കാന്‍ മത്സരിക്കുന്നത് കാണുബോള്‍ സര്‍വശക്തന്‍ മനുഷ്യചരിത്രത്തില്‍ നടത്തിയ തന്ത്രങ്ങളെ കുറിച്ചോര്‍ത്തുപോകുന്നു.

ആ മാസികയുടെ സ്മരണാര്‍ത്ഥം V P ഷെയ്ക്ക് ഫരീദ് തനിക്കു തായ്‌വഴിയായി ലഭിച്ച നെടുംതോടിലെ തന്‍റെ സ്ഥലത്തിന് അന്സാരീസ് കോര്‍പറേഷന്‍ എന്നപേര് നല്‍കി.. ഇന്നും  എന്‍റെ വീട് ഉള്‍പ്പടെയുള്ള ആ സ്ഥലത്തിന്റെ അഡ്രസ്സ് എന്‍റെമാതൃപിതാവ്‌ ആറുപതിറ്റാണ്ട് മുന്‍പിട്ട അതേപേരില്‍ നിലനിക്കുന്നു.

പെരുമ്പാവൂര്‍ മുസ്ലിം ടൗണ്‍ ജമാഅത്ത് പ്രസിഡണ്ട്‌, മദ്യനിരോധനസമിതി ,പെരുമ്പാവൂര്‍ തമിള്‍സംഘം ,ആശാന്‍ സ്മാരകസമിതി എന്നിവയുടെ തലപ്പത്ത് ഒരേസമയം ദീര്‍ഘനാള്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിച്ച  മജീദ്‌ മരിക്കാര്‍, അക്ഷരശ്ലോക സമിതി, പെരുമ്പാവൂര്‍ സ്വാതിതിരുനാള്‍ മ്യൂസിക്‌ അസ്സോസിയേഷന്‍, ആലുവ സംഗീതസഭ തുടങ്ങിയ നിരവധി കലാസാംസ്കാരിക സംഘടനകളുടെ സ്രാഷ്ടാക്കളിലൊരാളുമായിരുന്നു. തികഞ്ഞൊരു കലാസ്വാദകനും ശാസ്ത്രീയസംഗീതപ്രേമിയായിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹം M S സുബ്ബ്‌ലക്ഷ്മി പോലുള്ള സംഗീതലോകത്തെ പ്രഗല്ഭരുമായി സൗഹൃദംപുലര്‍ത്തിയിരുന്നു.

  എന്‍റെ മാതാപിതാക്കളുടെ വിവാഹരജിസ്റ്ററിലെ ഒന്നാംസാക്ഷി എന്ന നിലയില്‍ തുടങ്ങുന്ന തീര്‍ത്തും വൈകാരികമായൊരു ബന്ധമായിരുന്നു മരിക്കാര്‍ സാഹിബുമായി എന്‍റെ കുടുംബത്തിനുണ്ടായിരുന്നത്. എന്‍റെ മാതാവ് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഉറ്റസുഹൃത്ത്‌ ഷെയ്ക് ഫരീദിന്റെ മകളായിരുന്നതിനാല്‍ പിതൃതുല്യമായൊരു വാത്സല്യമാണ് അദ്ദേഹത്തില്‍നിന്നും ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ലഭിച്ചിരുന്നത്.

അദ്ദേഹവുമായി മണിക്കൂറുകളോളം സംസാരിച്ചിരിക്കുമായിരുന്ന എന്‍റെ പിതാവ്, അദേഹത്തിനു നല്‍കുന്നപോലൊരു ആദരവ് മറ്റൊരാള്‍ക്കും നല്‍കുന്നത് ഞാന്‍ കണ്ടിട്ടില്ല. തനിക്ക് വലിയതാല്പര്യം തോന്നാത്തവരോട് പെട്ടെന്ന് വിഷയംസംസാരിച്ചു പിരിയുന്ന അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രത്യേകസ്വഭാവത്തെകുറിച്ച് പില്‍കാലത്ത് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മക്കളില്‍ നിന്നറിഞ്ഞപ്പോഴാണ് അദ്ദേഹം എന്‍റെ പിതാവിന് നല്‍കിയിരുന്ന പരിഗണനയെത്രയെന്നു ഞാന്‍ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞത്. അത്തരം പരസ്പര സന്ദര്‍ശനം വഴി ഒരുപാട് വിലപ്പെട്ടഓര്‍മ്മകള്‍ എന്നില്‍  അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെതായുണ്ട്.

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ഊദിന്‍റെ മണമുള്ള പതുപതുത്ത ആ കൈ സ്പര്‍ശം മൂന്നുപതിറ്റാണ്ടിനുശേഷവും എനിക്ക് അനുഭവിക്കാനാവുന്നുണ്ട്.

വെളുത്തുതുടുത്ത വലിയൊരുശരീരത്തിന്‍റെ  ഇരട്ടിവലുപ്പമുള്ളൊരു മനസ്സുമായി ജീവിച്ച്, 1984 ഒക്ടോബര്‍ 30ന് തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തു വെച്ച് തന്‍റെ എഴുപതാംവയസ്സില്‍  കാലയവനികയ്ക്കുള്ളില്‍മറഞ്ഞ മജീദ്‌ മരിക്കാര്‍ എന്ന ഇതിഹാസത്തെ ഈ ദിനം പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥനാപൂര്‍വ്വം സ്മരിക്കുന്നു.

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