Moonis Raza

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Professor Moonis Raza' was a prominent academician, freedom fighter, prolific speaker and a visionary who served as Vice Chancellor (Delhi University), Rector (Jawaharlal Nehru University), Director (National Institute of Educational Planning & Administration [NIEPA] and Chairman of the Indian Council for Social Science Research [ICSSR] in his later years. His tenure as President of Delhi University is known to be one of the least controversial and productive in terms of overall growth and educational reforms. He was also a visiting professor at Cornell University in New York and held various senior positions in different departments and commissions of Government of India. He was born in a distinguished family from eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a co-founder of the internationally renowned Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

Prof Raza authored (co-authored) and edited several books and original articles, some of his well known works include, “An Atlas of Tribal India”, “Atlas of the Child in India”, “Valley of Kashmir “ and "Education and the Future: A Vision". He firmly believed that "Regional development is eco-development”.

Prof Moonis Raza was a creator and original signatory to the “Talloires Declaration” to the 10 point action plan from Association of University Leaders for a sustainable future in response to the deep concern about the unprecedented scale and speed of environmental pollution and degradation, and the depletion of natural resources. The Action Plan included among others to increase awareness of environmentally sustainable development: Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry, foundation, and university awareness by openly addressing the urgent need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future.

Prof Moonis Raza was conferred an honorary degree [Doctor of Humane Letters] by Tufts University, Boston, USA in the early 90s.