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Ali Manikfan is often called ‘university of the universe’ and has won Padma Shri as a recognition of his massive achievements. The 82-year-old is an expert on several subjects without even having any kind of formal training. He is a well-known marine researcher, ecologist, cosmologist, shipbuilder, polyglot and scholar with knowledge in marine biology, marine research, geography, astronomy, social science, traditional shipbuilding, education, fisheries, agriculture and horticulture. Manikfan has studied a number of languages including English, Hindi and Malayalam, Arabic, Latin, French, Russian, German, Sinhalese, Persian, Sanskrit, Tamil and Urdu.

He was born on 16th March 1938 in Minicoy in Lakshadweep as the second son of Musa Manikfan and Fathima Manika. He received his basic education under one-teacher-school at his house arranged by his father. Later, he joined a school in Kannur in Kerala for his formal education. After the third forum, he left formal education.

“Formal schooling kills creativity and does not allow a child’s mind to grow beyond his prescribed subjects and lessons. He says children should be allowed to absorb the nature around them and that is the best way to learn. Parents and teachers should be able to understand the child’s interests and based on that, should direct the child to learn things that will equip him or her to grow," he once said.

He later joined Central Marine Fisheries Institute (CMFRI) in Ramanathapuram as lab assistant. CMFRI helped him to harness his knowledge about the sea life and knowledge in astronomy. Considering his contribution in identifying numerous fish species, a fish was named after him and it is called Abudefduf Manikfani.

In 1981, Irish adventurer Tim Severin asked Manikfan to help him build a ship that replicates

a ship exactly similar to one on which Sindbad of Arabian stories Alif Laila Wa Laila had travelled.Led by Manikfan, a 31 member completed the ship in one year in a factory in Muscat. 22 people including Tim travelled in it from Oman to China. The ship is still kept in Oman as an honour to Tim and Manikfan.

He now holds the patent of a bicycle, which he designed and travelled from Rameshwaram to New Delhi in 45 days along with his son Moosa Manikfan. He also delivered lectures at JNU and National Institute of Science Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) about his life and experiments.

“We should learn from our surroundings by observing nature. Everyone is capable of that but our educational system has made us homogenous, killing the creativity, which came as God’s gift,” Ali once said. With his deep knowledge in Quran, he believes that God has created man with unique capacities and provided nature as a textbook. 

He has designed a lunar calendar based on the movements of the moon. He is propagating his pet project, a ‘unified calendar for Muslim word’ arguing that the Gregorian calendar is known for it addition and omission of days in the past.