C. H. Mohammed Koya


Cheriyan Kandi Muhammad Koya, known as C. H. Muhammad Koya, was an Indian politician who served as the Minister of Education in Kerala state Government from 1967 to 1979. He also led the cabinet as the eighth Chief Minister of Kerala from 12 October to 1 December 1979.
As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the education of backward classes in northern Kerala. He also served as the Home Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala.

Life and career

Cheriyan Kandi Muhammad Koya was born in 1927 at Atholi, in northern Kerala, to Payampunathil Ali and Mariyumma.
Koya started the Muslim Students Federation, the youth wing of the All-India Muslim League, while a school student at Zamorin's College, Calicut. He later helped to receive prominent Muslim League leader Liaquat Ali Khan at Calicut. He joined the Chandrika newspaper, the official organ the Muslim League, in 1946.
Koya was first elected to Kerala Assembly in the 1957 legislative elections. He went on to hold several key Kerala cabinet posts under a number of Chief Ministers in the following decades.
In 1962 and in 1973, Koya was elected to the Parliament of India. He was a Member in Kerala University Senate and served as Chairman, Governing Body, REC, Calicut.
Koya died on 28 September, 1983 while serving as Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala. He was aged just 56 at the time of his death.

Legacy

Koya was known his eloquent oratory and was described by scholar R. E. Miller as "grassroots star of the Mappila community" and the "ranking hero of Muslim youth" in Kerala. He also acted as a "bridge-builder" among various social and religious groups of Kerala.
As the Minister of Education, Koya championed the progress of the Mappila community in secular education, but also advocated higher standards in the 'Arabic Colleges'.
Pattom Ministry
Speaker
2nd E. M. S. Ministry
Minister for Education
1st Achutha Menon Ministry
Minister for Education and Home
2nd Achutha Menon Ministry
Minister for Education and Home
1st Karunakaran Ministry
Minister for Finance and Education
1st Antony Ministry
Minister for Education
P. K. V. Ministry
Minister for Education
Koya Ministry
Chief Minister of Kerala – 12 October to 1 December 1979
2nd Karunakaran Ministry
Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala
3rd Karunakaran Ministry
Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala