Padmavathi Ishaq passes away in Australia
Padmavathi Ishaq, 93, writer and former history teacher at Government Sanskrit College, Pattambi, passed away at her daughter’s residence in Perth, Australia, on Tuesday (August
Padmavathi Ishaq, 93, writer and former history teacher at Government Sanskrit College, Pattambi, passed away at her daughter’s residence in Perth, Australia, on Tuesday (August 4, 2026). Born at Chalavara in Palakkad district, Padmavathi entered public life through the All India Students Federation during her student days and later became active in the undivided Communist Party. During the period when the party was banned, her family sheltered and supported leaders and activists who were in hiding.
It was during this period that she came in contact with Mohammed Ishaq, then Eranad taluk party secretary and an orator. Their marriage, overcoming social and religious opposition, was a notable event in Kerala at the time. A postgraduate in history from Aligarh Muslim University, Padmavathi served at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, before joining the History department at Government Sanskrit College, Pattambi.
Her book Medieval Indian History was included in the second year BA History syllabus of Calicut University in 1986 and remained a prescribed text for several years. Mohammed Ishaq, her husband, was one of the early Communist leaders of Valluvanad and had served as registrar of Jamia Millia Islamia University and founding vice-chairman of the Malappuram Cooperative Spinning Mill.
Padmavathi also served as chairperson of Kerala’s cooperative spinning mills for a period. She lived in Australia after her husband’s death. She is survived by daughter Neena. Another daughter Nishath passed away last year.
The BriefWire