Nilambur’s anti-dowry crusader is Cong’s poll pick
Another son rises quietly in the Congress. But there weren’t enough murmurs when Kerala power minister Aryadan Muhammad, who represented Nilambur in Muslim-dominated Malappuram district a record eight times, passed the mantle to his son Aryadan Shoukath.
A member of the Rahul Gandhi brigade, 50-year-old Shoukath was the chairman of Nilambur municipality when it was declared country’s first dowry-free town in 2010. Having dabbled in local body politics and social movements for more than two decades, bringing many laurels to Nilambur — a high-range taluk close to Nilgiri mountain, he was the natural choice when Aryadan senior hung up his boots. “I don’t need an introduction here. I was in the midst of people for more than two decades. From the first dowryfree municipality to the first town to complete total primary education and matriculation, I worked in their midst all these years,” said Shoukath, claiming that he won’t have to work too hard to retain his father’s constituency.
When he became the panchayat president in 2005, he noticed two extremes widely prevalent in his village — many women in the area were becoming grandmothers in their 30s and several girls of marriageable age were confined to their homes for want of money and gold. He launched a mass movement, roping in many agencies and committed social workers, to change that.
His opponents, however, are not amused by his record.
“His father was in control for more than three decades, now he’s passed the mantle to his son. It is worse than a dynasty and people of Nilambur are yearning for change,” said CPI(M)backed independent candidate PV Anwar.