B. Pocker

B. Pocker Sahib Bahadur (1890-1965) was an Indian lawyer and politician.

Early life

He graduated from Madras Law college in 1915 and became an advocate in Madras High Court in 1917. Pocker Sahib was the fifth University graduate and Second Advocate among Malabar Muslims.

Career

He entered national politics in 1919 with a memorandum to Lord Montagu arguing for special Muslim constituencies. As the frontman of the Khilafat Movement, he led the relief activities for Mappilas people, who were affected by the Malabar Riot in 1921. He formed the "Mappila Amelioration Committee", which collected and distributed more than two lakh of rupees among the Mappilas despite threats and prohibitions by the British government.

He founded the "South India Muslim Education Society" and "Kerala Muslim Education Association", which are the foundation of Educational reforms of Malabar Muslims.

He served as parliament party secretary of the United Nationalist Party in the Madras Assembly from 1930 to 1936. He later joined the All India Muslim League and ran in the Kurumbranad-Kozhikkode constituency. Though he lost the election to the candidate supported by Syed Abdul Rahiman Bafaqui Thangal, the election campaign led by K.M. Seethi Saheb strengthened the Muslim League in Malabar. Eventually, Bafaqui Thangal also joined, which spread the acceptance of Muslim League among Mappilas. In 1946, he was elected to Constituent Assembly of India where he worked to ensure minority rights in Constitution of India.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1952 and 1957 representing the Malappuram and Majery, respectively. His effort won Indian Muslims exemptions from the Special Marriage Act of 1954.

He served as a National Executive Member of the Indian Union Muslim League and Vice President of Kerala State Committee. He passed away on 29 July 1965.