Thangal always resisted pressures to take up plum postings in Muslim countries that had good relations with India and also preferred to keep away from the corridors of power.

For several decades he had been the fulcrum on which the IUML, the second most powerful ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, stood steady.

Thangal, born May 4, 1936, was the eldest son of Panakkad Pookoya Thangal. The family claims to be descendents of the Prophet Mohammed.

Thangal's forefathers came to the state hundreds of years back and intermingled with the culture of Kerala.

His ancestors were known for their patriotism by taking a strong anti-imperialist stance during the British rule.

After his schooling in Calicut, Thangal went for higher studies on Islam in Tirur. In 1958, he went to Egypt for further studies and obtained a higher degree from Al Azhar University in 1961.

He continued his studies in Cairo University and pursued a doctorate in Arabic literature in 1966.

On the death of his father in 1975, he took over as president of the Kerala state committee of IUML, a post he held till his death.

After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, Thangal made a passionate plea to all the Muslims in the state to remain calm.

Achuthanandan lauded the role played by Thangal in preserving social harmony in the state.

Bharatiya Janata Party state president P.K. Krishnadas said Thangal's contribution in preventing the spread of Islamic terrorism in the state would be remembered for long.

State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala said the state had lost a spokesperson of secular values.

Malappuram district, which has the highest concentration of the Muslim population in the state, owes much of its development to Thangal. He was behind the proposal to start another campus of Aligarh Muslim University in Kerala.