Samastha Centenary Conference Concludes at Kuniya with Call for Unity and Secular Commitment
Kuniya (Kasaragod):
The centenary conference of the Samastha Kerala Jam’iyyathul Ulama concluded at Kuniya in Kasaragod district on February 8, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to Sunni unity, social harmony, and constitutional secularism. The five-day conference, held from February 4 to 8, marked a historic milestone in the century-long journey of the organisation.
The conference witnessed the participation of over three lakh supporters, scholars, and delegates from Kerala and other parts of the country. A major resolution adopted during the conference focused on strengthening organisational unity over the next five years, including initiatives to bring back those who had parted ways in the past due to ideological or organisational differences.
Addressing the valedictory session, the Chief Minister lauded Samastha’s historic role in resisting communal forces and preserving Kerala’s secular fabric. He said the organisation had consistently taken an uncompromising stand against terrorism and extremism and had maintained restraint and balance even in faith-related reforms, thereby strengthening the culture of coexistence and tolerance in society.
The Chief Minister noted that Samastha’s long-standing position—that communalism can be countered only by standing with secular forces, and that communalism cannot be answered with communalism—has acquired renewed relevance in the present socio-political climate. Calling for collective resistance to communalism and religious nationalism, he urged democratic and secular forces to move forward together.
The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Salama Jum‘a Dawoud, Rector of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, who highlighted the importance of knowledge-based religious leadership and moderation in addressing contemporary challenges faced by the Muslim community. Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal delivered the keynote address, emphasising unity, discipline, and social responsibility as guiding principles for the organisation’s future course.
As part of the centenary celebrations, the Samastha Centenary Award was presented to Lulu Group Chairman M. A. Yusuff Ali in recognition of his contributions to entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and social development. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan, Deputy Leader of the Opposition P. K. Kunhalikutty, and several other political, religious, and social leaders addressed the gathering.
During the conference, Samastha announced a series of new initiatives in the education and healthcare sectors aimed at strengthening institutional frameworks, expanding access to quality education, and enhancing community-based healthcare services. Organisers said the resolutions adopted at the centenary conference would serve as a roadmap for the organisation’s activities for the next five years.
Marking a century of religious, educational, and social engagement, the conference concluded with a renewed pledge to uphold moderation, secular values, and social justice in a rapidly evolving national and global context.
