Former Palayam Imam passes away

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sheikh Abul Hassan Ali Noori, freedom fighter, multilingual scholar and Palayam Imam for close to two decades, died at his house here, on Friday. He was 90. The interment was done on Friday at the Palayam Juma Masjid, the mosque which he helped elevate to its present-day status from a ‘pattalappalli’, during his tenure as Imam.Abul Hassan was born in 1921 in Thenkassi. He had his schooling in Rajapalayam, and did his graduation in Tanjavur. He left for Burma for his post graduation. After that, he became a teacher in Rangoon. He was proficient in nine languages including Arabic, Urdu, Malay and Burmese.In 1942, he became active in the Quit India Movement in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. He became an Imam in Thenkasi in 1952. From 1962 onwards, close to two decades, he was the imam at the Palayam Juma Masjid. A noted orator and teacher, he also entertained a progressive outlook, championing women’s education and criticising the dowry system. The author of several books, he also has several cassettes on Quran recitals and classical music.