When we talk about minorities in Pakistan, mostly the conversation is on lines of the religious minority. But how many of us know that a malyali was a prominent face in Pakistani politics? Yes, you heard that right. Pakistan politics suffered a massive loss after politician and human rights activist BM Kutty breathed his last on Sunday after battling a prolonged illness. He was 89.
Kutty first came to limelight after his autobiography, “Sixty years in self-exile: Not Regrets; A Political Autobiography” was published in 2011.
During the book launch, he had told Indian media that Kerala should be proud of him as he has kept the Malyali flag flying even in Pakistan.
Kerala Origins
Biyyothil Mohyuddin Kutty or BM Kutty as he was fondly called, was born in 1930 in a Malayali Muslim middle-class family in Tirupur in Malappuram. Being affiliated to leftist-socialist political ideologies, he joined Kerala Students Federation, the student wing of Communist Party.
He was a part of Muslim Students Federation under the All-India Muslim League before he migrated to Pakistan in 1949 at the age of 19.
Political Activism In Pakistan
In Pakistan, Kutty was associated with Awami League, National Democratic Party and Pakistan National Party, and with the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy. He also served as the political secretary to Governor of Balochistan Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo in 1972.
He was jailed during the dictatorships of Gen Ayub and Gen Zia as well as during the country’s first democratically elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He criticised Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for dismissing the National Awami Party elected government in 1973.
Condolences In India
Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, condoled the death of Kutty and said to PTI, “He was also a prominent journalist and a determined leader who fought for peace and against communalism.”
Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter to pay homage to the Kutty.
Kerala’s gift to Pakistan, Communist politician & human rights activist BM Kutty, dies at 89: https://t.co/uDj5gmUP81
RIP— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 25, 2019
Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of The Print retweeted episode of his YouTube show ‘Cut The Clutter’ where he talked about Kutty and explained Baloch nationalism.
An Indian’s guide to Baloch nationalism, Pakistan’s tiny but never-say-die Left never mind bans, solitary confinement & 3rd degree..
And the death of an 89-year old Malayali called B.M. Kutti…#CutTheClutter with me. Episode 248https://t.co/cBiPpIZYiF
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) August 25, 2019
Also Read: All You Need To Know About Balochistan And The Controversy Around It
