| Bashir Maan | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1926 Qila Didar Singh, Punjab, British India |
| Residence | Glasgow |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Education | M.Sc |
| Occupation | Retired |
| Home town | Glasgow |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Children | 4 |
Bashir Maan CBE (born October 1926) is a Pakistani-Scottish politician, businessman, judge, community worker and writer. He was born in Maan village, near Qila Didar Singh, Gujranwala District, British India (now modern day Pakistan). He completed his high school studies at DB High High School, Qila Didar Singh. He was an undergraduate and worked as a clerk at Lahore. As a student, between 1943 and 1947, he was involved in the struggle for independence of the Indian sub-continent and the creation of Pakistan. Following this, he organised the rehabilitation of Muslim refugees from India to his locality. Ultimately, he decided to leave for the United Kingdom.
He arrived in Glasgow from his native Pakistan in March 1953 at the age of 26. Starting as a student and door to door salesman he went on to open one of the first shops in Glasgow selling alcohol at heavily discounted prices in 1967. He subsequently sold this side of his business concerns due to the conflict that it had with his religious beliefs.
By 1968 Bashir Maan had been appointed the first Asian and Muslim Justice of the Peace for the City of Glasgow. In 1970 he was the first Muslim to be elected to a public office in the United Kingdom, serving as a Labour councillor for the Kingston ward of the City of Glasgow Corporation. His political career in Glasgow went on to span 33 years. During this time he also held several judicial appointments such as Magistrate, Police Judge, District Court Judge and Bailie of the City of Glasgow. He retired from politics in 2003 after completing his four year term as Convenor of the Strathclyde Joint Police Board. He allowed his Labour Party membership to lapse in 2004 when it became clear that the public had been misled by those behind the Iraq war. {Citation needed|date=July 2007}}
Bashir Maan has played a major role in encouraging the Muslim community's confidence and integration in Glasgow and supporting mutual understanding and respect between communities. In 1966 he became involved in planning and development for what is now the grand central mosque of Glasgow, completed in 1983. He visited Bosnia and Herzegovina with many Scottish Christian leaders and made the plight of the Muslims known to all. He highlighted the positive role of Pakistan Army troops serving as UN peacekeepers there to the world through a series of articles in the press.
He has held many prominent positions with both local and national Pakistani organisations, including Founding Chair of the Scottish Pakistani Association and President of the Standing Conference of Pakistani Organisations in the UK and Eire (SCOPO). In 1977, the then Home Secretary appointed him a Deputy Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality for three years. In 2000, he was elected the President of the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, an important office that he held until 2006. He has been awarded 3 honorary degrees of doctorate and 2 fellowships by Scottish universities. He is the previous Convener of the Muslim Council of Scotland and past President of the Islamic Centre Glasgow.[1]
He continues to contribute to the press and has published 2 books New Scots and "The Thistle and the Crescent".
In recognition of his extensive work in the community, race relations and the voluntary sector, he was presented with the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2000.
Bashir Maan has 4 children, 5 grand children and 9 great grand children. He and his family are the subjects of a photographic portrait included in the series 'A Scottish Family Portrait' by Verena Jaekel, which is displayed at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh until 31st October 2012.