Prof. (Dr.) Riyaz Punjabi, formerly the Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir has had a distinguished career spanning over 40 years in academics, research and voluntary action. In view of his immense contribution in these areas he was awarded the prestigious Socrates Award 2008. He was awarded the title of Honorary Professor for the International University Vienna for his contribution in ‘Strengthening International Relations in the Sphere of Education’. The award was announced by the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) in Oxford, London, The Rector, International University, Vienna and President of the Club of the Rectors of Europe (Twenty European Universities) in January, 2008. This Award came for the first time to Asia.
In 2009 Prof. Punjabi was awarded the Amity Academic Excellence Award 2009 by Amity International Business School, Amity University for his contribution to knowledge and education.
Prof. Punjabi, in recognition to his contribution to education, culture and promoting communal harmony in J&K State was given Fazil Memorial Award 2009 and Adbi Markaz Kamraz Award 2010. These awards have been instituted to honour eminent persons in the fields of culture in Kashmir.
Recognizing his contribution to education and literature, the President of India honoured Prof. Riyaz Punjabi on the occasion of the Republic Day (2011) with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards.[1]
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Prof. Riyaz Punjabi has lectured in the Universities and research institutions in different parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, Canada and Australia. He has participated in more than 21 International Conferences and Seminars in U.S.A, U.K., Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, China, Turkey, South Africa, Croatia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Jerusalem, and New Delhi. Prof. Punjabi holds a degree of Doctorate in Laws and has taught and conducted researches in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) New Delhi, Universities of Jammu and Kashmir, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. He has held the positions of Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Faculty of Social Science Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Professor and Chairman, Department of Distance Education, Dean Faculty of Non Formal Education, University of Kashmir; Director, Directorate of Correspondence Courses, Director Centre for Adult Continuing & Extension Education and Director, State Resource Centre, University of Kashmir. He has been the Director, Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir.
Prof. Punjabi has been a Visiting Research Fellow on Human Rights in the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, Visiting Professor, Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi and Visiting Research Fellow in the Centre for South Asian Studies, Switzerland. He has been affiliated with research centres at the National level as a member, Board of Management, Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Member, Advisory Board, Centre for Peace and Conflict Management, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi; Member, Governing Council of International Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi.
Prof. Punjabi is President, International Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi and Honorary Co-Director European Institute, New Delhi. He is the founding Editor of the quarterly Journal of Peace Studies New Delhi, since 1994.
Prof. Punjabi has authored six books [2] and contributed chapters in 12 edited volumes and authored more than 20 occasional papers and monographs on diverse themes and subjects. He has contributed more than 200 research papers in National and International journals on diverse themes and subjects.[3] He has been pursuing varied themes but his main areas of work have been Peace Studies, Human Rights, Global Terrorism, Composite Culture, Inter-religious conflicts and rise of fundamentalism in South Asia and Sufism. His favourite subject has been the projection of spiritual and cultural unity of people in South Asia as reflected in Sufi-Bakhti traditions of the region. In his latest edited book ‘U.S.A. and Muslim World’ Prof. Punjabi has mapped the Global Islamist Movements and projected their declining fortunes. This book has a chapter by Dr. Hamid Ansari, Hon’ble Vice President of India. Prof. Punjabi is presently working on new themes like Sociology of Reshi order in Kashmir and Sociology of Peace.
In 1994, Prof. Punjabi set up a voluntary research group ‘Centre for Peace Studies’ in New Delhi to encourage researches and debate on human rights, peace, spiritual unity and human brotherhood. This group later became ‘International Centre for Peace Studies’ and sustains itself on voluntary contributions and donations. This Centre has facilitated to disseminate Prof. Punjab’s publications, organize public lectures, discussions and debates to promote the cause of human rights, peace and religious harmony and inter faith dialogue. This Centre has affiliation with the international organizations and groups pursuing the similar themes. This Centre has organized hundreds of Seminars, Conferences and Interactions across the globe to promote communal amity and inter-faith dialogue. The Centre has been publishing a quarterly Journal of Peace Studies since 1994.
Prof. Punjabi has made immense contribution in the field of Kashmir Studies. Through his publications, public lectures and discussions he has been projecting the syncretic culture of Kashmir Valley. He has been underlining the spiritual continuity of different faiths in Kashmir which culminated in the form of Kashmiriyat in Kashmir. His article ‘Kashmiriyat: The Mystique of an Ethnicity’ published in the India International Centre quarterly in 1990, became so popular that it was translated in several Indian languages and reproduced in several national and international publications.[4]
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi has been reflecting in the area of religious amity by drawing inspiration from different faiths of world. He has authored several articles on Sikh faith which have been widely acclaimed. He has worked considerably on the spiritual content of Guru Granth Sahib - the Sikh Book of faith. His article in HU Journal of Rumi foundation “Growing popularity of Sufism worldwide” was acclaimed internationally.
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi holds the membership of professional bodies in USA, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and India. He is a member of International Studies Association, USA; International Studies Association for the Study of Forced Migrations, Netherlands; International Society for Health & Human Rights, Netherlands; International Council of Distance Education, Australia; International Peace Research Association, Netherlands and the India International Centre and India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi has participated in more than 20 sessions of UN Council of Human Rights in Geneva.