Mohammad Hamid Ansari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mohammad Hamid Ansari | |
| [[Image:|225px|Mohammad Hamid Ansari]] Mohammad Hamid Ansari |
|
|
|
|
| In office 11 August 2007 – 10 August 2012 |
|
| President | Pratibha Patil |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Bhairon Singh Shekhawat |
|
|
|
| Born | 1 April 1934 Calcutta (now Kolkata) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Salma Ansari |
| Alma mater | Aligarh Muslim University |
| Profession | Diplomat, Academician |
| Religion | Islam |
Mohammad Hamid Ansari (born April 1, 1934) is the current Vice President of India. He is a former chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).[1] He is also an academician, a career diplomat, and a former Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University.
He was elected the 13th Vice President of India on 10 August 2007 and took office on 11 August 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and Career
Ansari was born in Kolkata on April 1, 1937 though his family belongs to Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. He is the grand nephew of former Congress President and freedom fighter Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari. He studied at Shimla's St Edwards High School, Kolkata's St Xavier's College and at the Aligarh Muslim University.
Ansari started his career as a civil servant in the Indian Foreign Service in 1961. He was Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Indian High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. He was awarded the Padma Shree in 1984.[2]. He was also the Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University from May 2000 to March 2002. He is known for his role in ensuring compensation to the victims of the Gujarat riots and pushing for a complete re-look into the relief and rehabilitation for riot victims since 1984.[3]
[edit] Other activities and NCM
Ansari is a renowned West Asia scholar and has written trenchantly on the Palestinian issue and taken positions inconvenient to the Indian official line on Iraq and Iran. He questioned India’s vote in the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear programme where India voted against Iran. He said that though the Indian Government claimed to have acted on "its own judgment," this was not borne out by facts.[4]
Ansari was the chairman of a working group on "Confidence building measures across segments of society in the State," established by the Second Round Table Conference of the Prime Minister on Jammu and Kashmir in 2006. The report of the working group was adopted by the Third Round Table in April 2007. Among other things, the report advocates recognising the right of Kashmiri Pandits to return to “places of their original residence.” This right, it argued, should be recognised without any ambiguity and made a part of state policy.[5]
Ansari became the chairman of India's National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on 6 March, 2006.[6]. In June 2007, Ansari, in his capacity as NCM chairman, upheld the decision of India's premier educational institution, St. Stephens College, to earmark a small percentage of seats for Dalit Christians.[7] Ansari resigned as NCM chairman soon after his nomination for the post of India's Vice President.
He edited a book titled Iran Today: Twenty - five Years after the Islamic Revolution (ISBN 81-291-0774-0).
[edit] Vice-Presidential Elections, 2007
On July 20, 2007, Ansari was named by the UPA-Left, the ruling coalition in India, as its candidate for the post of Vice President for the upcoming election. When asked, Ansari said he felt "humbled" over the UPA-Left decision naming him as their candidate. "I am humbled by the confidence reposed in me". Ansari refused to say more when asked about his prospects in the August 10 election.[8].
Ansari secured 455 votes, and won the election by a margin of 233 votes against his nearest rival Najma Heptullah in the Vice-President Election.
[edit] Quotes
- "The language used by the Pope sounds like that of his 12th-Century counterpart who ordered the crusades... It surprises me because the Vatican has a very comprehensive relationship with the Muslim world." - September 15, 2006, as Chairman of the Minorities Commission of India, on the Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy.[9]
- "No citizen is apolitical; as a citizen, by definition, has to take interest in public affairs.” - August 10, 2007, after being elected Vice-President, on being asked whether he is apolitical.[10]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Hamid Ansari set to be India’s next Vice President. Retrieved on August 14, 2007
- ^ zeenews.com - Hamid Ansari is UPA-Left nominee for VP polls
- ^ dailypioneer.com - Hamid Ansari is UPA-Left choice
- ^ hindu.com - Hamid Ansari: versatile scholar, statesman
- ^ hindu.com - Hamid Ansari: versatile scholar, statesman
- ^ NCM website - current commission
- ^ newspostindia.com - report
- ^ ibnlive.com - Ansari named UPA-Left candidate for Vice President Poll
- ^ In quotes: Muslim reaction to Pope. BBC News. Retrieved on August 13, 2007.
- ^ Anticipation, trepidation, says Ansari. The Hindu. Retrieved on August 13, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Iran Today: Twenty - five Years after the Islamic Revolution (Rupa, New Delhi,2005) (ISBN 81-291-0774-0)
- Ansari:Shares Left leanings and is also close to Congress bosses
- Hamid Ansari: versatile scholar, statesman
| Preceded by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat |
Vice President of India August 11, 2007 |
Succeeded by incumbent |
|
|||||||
