Syed Zafar Mahmood

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Syed Zafar Mahmood, Ph.D. (born June 8, 1951) is an Indian Civil-Servant and former 'Officer on Special Duty' for the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.[1] On March 9, 2005 the Prime Minister appointed the 'Sachar Committee' to study the "social, economic and educational status" of India's minority Muslim community.[2][3] Dr. Mahmood worked with the Sachar Committee to submit its report to the Government of India within two years on November 17, 2006.[4][5] He has since given numerous talks in and outside India on the topic. In his presentations at Case Western Reserve University and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government he has commented on the steps forward to bridge the economic, social and educational divide of Indian Muslims.[6]

During President George W. Bush's 2006 visit to India, the U.S. President convened an interfaith meeting in New Delhi and Dr. Mahmood was one of the representatives of Indian Muslims.[7]

Education

Dr. Mahmood was educated at Aligarh Muslim University where he earned B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics, M.S. in Political Science, and Ph.D. in Public Administration.

Non-Governmental Work

Dr. Mahmood is also the founder of three non-profit organizations: Zakat Foundation of India,[8] Interfaith Coalition for Peace[9] and God's Grace Foundation.[10]

Of note, Zakat Foundation of India (founded in 1997) is a non-profit which runs an orphanage for victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots in partnership with USA's One World Children's Fund.[11] The Foundation recently was in the news for adopting the family of the late 11-year old Shanno Khan.[12] Dr.Mahmood's work in regard to these organizations has also been featured on CNN [13] and America's National Public Radio (NPR).[14] In September 2009, ZFI filed a 'Right To Information' application to question why the Government had rejected the Sachar Committee recommendations to ensure proper governance of Wakf properties.[15]

On June 29, 2013 Dr. Mahmood was invited as a speaker to 'Young India Conclave' in Gandhinagar, Gujarat along with the state's Chief Minister Sri Narendra Modi.[16] Dr. Mahmood challenged the Chief Minister on his poor records towards Muslims,[17][18][19][20] highlighting anti-Muslim rhetoric on the BJP website,[21] as well as policies that the BJP would need to adopt to appeal to Indian Muslim voters.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Page (iv) - http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/sachar/sachar_comm.pdf
  2. ↑ Page (v) - http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/sachar/sachar_comm.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/world/asia/29india.html
  4. ↑ http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=26431&section_id=4
  5. ↑ http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0104/p01s04-wosc.html
  6. ↑ http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/3570/secular_democracy_indias_strength.html
  7. ↑ http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/88841/
  8. ↑ http://www.zakatindia.org
  9. ↑ http://www.icpindia.org
  10. ↑ http://www.godgraces.org
  11. ↑ http://www.oneworldchildrensfund.org/AsiaProjects.html
  12. ↑ http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/04/30/stories/2009043050850100.htm
  13. ↑ http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/09/01/natpkg.india.ramadan.charity.cnn
  14. ↑ http://kuow.org/program.php?id=12430
  15. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Government-rejects-Sachar-recommendation-on-Wakf-boards/articleshow/4963643.cms
  16. ↑ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modis-youth-conclave-in-gandhinagar-includes-islamic-scholars/1/285793.html
  17. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/at-modis-muslim-outreach-speaker-flays-bjp/article4864150.ece
  18. ↑ http://twocircles.net/2013jun29/i_knew_why_i_was_called_wanted_challenge_modi_and_bjp_zafar_mahmood.html
  19. ↑ http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=802293
  20. ↑ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-30/india/40285435_1_2002-riots-narendra-modi-muslim-community
  21. ↑ Dr. Mahmood's PowerPoint slides from June 29, 2013 Gujarat presentation to Sri Modi: http://www.zakatindia.org/Files/S.%20Zafar%20Mahmood%20talk%20-%20Ahmedabad%20June%2029%202013.pdf
  22. ↑ http://m.indianexpress.com/news/cm-watches-slide-show-on-2002-riots-says-point-taken/1135699/
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