Thangal Kunju Musaliar

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Thangal Kunju Musaliar.

Thangal Kunju Musaliar (January 12, 1897 - February 19, 1966)[1] was an industrialist, educationalist and visionary,[2] known for his contributions to the cashew industry, and higher education in the state of Kerala, India.

Cashew business[]

He was born in a middle-class family in Kollam that traces its ancestry to Malik ibn Deenar, Persian scholar and traveller who came to India in the 8th century.[3][2]

After travelling to Sri Lanka, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia for employment, he returned home and started a cashew processing unit, which became successful.[4] He purchased raw cashew from small scale farmers, and supplied the kernels to industrialists after processing. He then set up the first full-fledged cashew factory in Kerala.[5] The company "A. Thangal Kunju Musaliar AND Sons Private Limited" was incorporated in Kerala on 10 Jun, 1946.[6] In the 1940s, Musaliar had 26 cashew units and is believed to have employed around 25,000[5] to 30,000 people directly. He was called the "Cashew King" in national and international markets,[1][2] and Fortune magazine named him as the single biggest individual employer in the world, at the time.[1][7]

Publishing and education[]

He set up a book publishing house Vignana Poshini, and in 1944 started a weekly newspaper Prabhatham, which was later on made a daily.[5][4][2] He authored multiple books in Malayalam including Prayogikadwaitam, translated to English as Man and the world, practical philosophy and law of nature., by S Sathyavageeswara Iyer.[4][8]

In 1956, Musaliar formed the TKM Educational Trust to cater for the educational needs of the people of Kerala. The Trust established institutions such as TKM College of Engineering, , TKM Institute of Technology, TKM Institute of Management, , T.K.M. Centenary Public School and the .

Legacy[]

Postage stamp and First Day Cover issued by the Indian Government in 2001.

India Post issued a commemorative stamp on Musaliar on 26 October, 2001.[9]

A biography of Thangal Kunju Musaliar was written by P. Meerakutty in Malayalam, titled A. Thangal Kunju Musaliar.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Founder". tkmce.ac.in. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Nazeer P. History of Muslim educational institutions in Kerala (PDF). p. 153. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Our Founder". tkmim.ac.in. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Ainy (6 June 2018). "Thangal Kunju Musaliar". istampgallery.com. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Mahesh Reddiar (4 March 2009). "Postage stamp on Thangal Kunju Musaliyar". philaindia.info. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  6. ^ "A. Thangal Kunju Musaliar AND Sons Private Limited". economictimes.indiatimes.com.
  7. ^ Rajesh Ramachandran (22 November 2013). "Before CSR, Musaliar". thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  8. ^ A Thangal Kunju Musaliar; S Sathyavageeswara Iyer (1949). Man and the world, practical philosophy and law of nature. Santa Fe, San Vicente Foundation.
  9. ^ "Stamps 2001". postagestamps.gov.in. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Ernakulam Public Library catalog › Results of search for 'au:"Meerakutty. P."'".


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