Dato' Hj. Thobrani bin Hj. Hanafi was born in Pekan Kulim, Kedah on 10th December, 1945. He was the eldest of the two children of Hj. Hanafi, who was once an active politician. Dato' Hj. Thobrani was educated at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College. After finishing school, he enrolled himself at the University of Malaya on a Kedah State scholarship. He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts specializing in Social Science.

Career

• Administrative Officer in the Kedah Civil Service (KCS)
  
• Land Administrative Officer
  
• Assistant State Secretary, Kedah
  
• Chairman, Kuala Muda District Council
  
• President, Kota Setar Municipal Council (1981)
  
• Executive Chairman, Oriental Interest Berhad (OIB) (1982)

Social Activities

• Committee Member, Council of Justices of the Peace, Kedah State
  
• Committee Member, Council of Dato's, Kedah States
  
• Deputy Chairman, Society for Special Children, Sungai Petani

In appreciation of his services and contributions, he was awarded the B.C.K. in 1980, the B.K.M. in 1987, the J.P. in 1989 and the D.S.D.K., which carries the title Dato' in 1996.