E. Ahamed (29 April 1938 – 1 February 2017), Edappakath Ahamed in full,[1] was an Indian politician from Kannur (then Cannanore) in northern Kerala.[2] A Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) between 1991 and 2017, he was a key figure in India's diplomatic relations with the Middle East.[3]
E. Ahamed was born on 29 April 1938 in a merchant family in Kannur, Malabar District (Now Kannur district, Kerala), to Edappakath Nafeesa Beevi and Ovintakath Abdul Khader.[2][1] He carried his mother's 'house name' as his initials as the tradition among the Cannanore Mappilas.[1]
He graduated from Government Brennen College, Tellicherry and later obtained a law degree from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.[2] He was the first General Secretary of the M. S. F., the students' wing of Indian Union Muslim League.[1] He also worked as a reporter for the Chandrika newsapaper.[1] Ahamed married Zuhara in 1961 (died in an accident in 1999).[2] The couple has three children.[2][8]
He was a member of the Kerala and Calicut University Senate.[4] He was also Chairman, Kannur Municipal Council (1981–83).[4]
He also served as the founder Chairman, Kerala State Rural Development Board (1971–77), and Chairman, Kerala Small Industries Development Corporation.[4][2]
Ahamed was chosen as the General Secretary, Indian Union Muslim League in 1995.[2]
From 2004 to 2009, Ahamed served as the Minister of State for External Affairs.[2] From 2009 to 2011, he was the Minister of State for Railways.[2] He assumed charge again as Minister of State for External Affairs in early 2011.[2] Ahamed also held the additional charge of the Union Minister of State, Human Resource Development 2011 to 2012.[2]
Ahamed died on 1 February 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrest in a joint session of Parliament.[10][9] He was buried with full state honours at the Kannur City Juma Masjid.[11]
