Kannur: Arakkal Sultan Adiraja Mariyumma, aka Cheriya Bikkunhu Beevi passed away aged 87. She was the head of the family and the 40th in the line of succession.

Mariumma took over as the head after the demise of the 39th ruler, Sultan Arakkal Adiraja Fathima Muthu Beevi, in May 2019.

Mariyumma was the wife of late A P Aluppi Elaya, who was a retired administrative officer of Chennai Ports Trust.

Chennai Ports Trust Superintendent Adiraja Abdul Shukur, Adiraja Naseema and Adiraja Raheena are her children.

Arakkal is the only remaining Muslim royal family in Kerala.

The eldest person of the family, irrespective of gender, became the ruler since the beginning of the Arakkal dynasty.

As per tradition, the male who gets the top position is called Ali Raja and the female head is called Arakkal Beevi.