Hassan Palakkode

Palakkode K. Hassan (1970) also known as Kamal Hassan and Hassan Palakkode is a Malayali writer and Islamic scholar from Kerala who converted to Hinduism. He has been a contributor to many religious periodicals in India.

Hassan belongs to Palakkod village in Palakkad district, Kerala. He completed a five year course darz, but did not work as a maulvi.

Hassan is the first Muslim intellectual in the state to change faith. His adoption of a new name Kamal Hassan evokes memories of a recent high profile conversion in the state-that of noted writer Kamala Das into Surayya.

Palakkode embraced Hinduism on March 30, 2000 along with a Christian lady and another Muslim man, according to Vedic rites . The ceremony, organised by the state unit of the Shiv Sena, was held at the famous Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, under the leadership of Acharya Yogananda Swami. It was attended by sanyasis from several ashrams.

The conversion ceremony could not be held at his home village due to a threat made to his life after he announced his decision to embrace Hinduism.

Prior to his conversion, Palakkode said in Thiruvananthapuram that it was not a spur of the moment decision and that he had been thinking of embracing Hinduism since 1998. He had also attracted the wrath of Muslim fundamentalists for writing secular articles and questioning polygamy.

Palakkode is the only member of his family to become a Hindu and said that though he had embraced Hinduism, he would never force his parents, wife, children or brothers to change faith. He would try his best to cooperate with them. [http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/24hindu.htm Muslim writer to convert to Hinduism] Rediff - March 24, 2000] [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000407/nation.htm#13 Muslim scholar embraces Hinduism] The Tribune, Chandigarh - April 7, 2000]

References

Links

* [http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/24hindu.htm Muslim writer to convert to Hinduism] Rediff - March 24, 2000
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000407/nation.htm#13 Muslim scholar embraces Hinduism] The Tribune, Chandigarh - April 7, 2000
* [http://www.outlookindia.com/polscape.asp?fodname=20000410 Polscape] Outlook India - 10 April, 2000