Muhammad Ismail Sahib was born on 5th June 1896 at Pettai, Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. He joined freedom movement in response to Mahatma Gandhi's call to the students to come out from their colleges and support the "Khilafath Movement". He took a leading part in that movement in Tamil Nadu.

He was elected President of the Madras State Muslim League in 1945. After India gained independence, he became the President of the Indian Union Muslim League in 1948 and continued in that post till his death. He is credited with restructuring of Indian Union Muslim League on secular lines. This strengthened the democratic, secular and natural forces of our  country.

He served as Member of the Tamil Nadu (Madras) Assembly from 1946 to 1952. He was later elected to the Constituent Assembly. As a member of the Constituent Assembly he played a prominent  role in the shaping of the Indian Constitution.

He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1952. Thereafter, he was elected thrice to Lok Sabha from Manjeri constituency in Kerala in 1962 and again in 1967 and 1971.

He dedicated his life towards the growth of communal goodwill. In his words, "While united wonders can be achieved, those who do harm to the communal goodwill and sow the seeds of communal hatred are worse than the murders". For his yeoman service, he came to be known as Quaid-e-Milleth, which  means  "guide of the Muslim Community".

The Department of Post is happy to issue a postage stamp to commemorate the birth centenary of Muhammad Ismail Sahib, which falls on 5th June, 1996.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India