Fairoz Khan

Fairoz Khan
National Secretary of the National Students Union of India, in charge of Uttar Pradesh
In office 15 Dec 2012 – 18 Feb 2014
National Secretary of the National Students Union of India, in charge of Odisha
In office 18 Feb 2014 – 31 Dec 2014
National Secretary of the National Students Union of India, in charge of Jharkhand
In office 1 Jan 2015 – 29 March 2016
National Secretary of the National Students Union of India, in charge of Telangana
In office 29 March 2016 – 8 December 2016
National General Secretary of the National Student's Union of India, in charge of Andra Pradesh
In office 8 December 2016 – 12 June 2017 National Student's Union of India, National President
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 June 2017
State President, Chenab Valley People's Association
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 August 2011
Personal details
Born	(1989-03-21) 21 March 1989 Jammu and Kashmir, India
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Indian National Congress
Residence	Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi, India
Alma mater	Delhi University Jammu University Govt. College Bhaderwah
As of 16 March, 2013

Fairoz Khan (born 21 March 1989 in Pogal Paristan, India) is an Indian student leader who is currently the national president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI).^[1] He has a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Master of Arts (MA) in political science and is pursuing a postgraduate diploma in human rights and duties education from Jammu University.

Family

Fairoz Khan was born on 21 March 1989, in the village of Pogal Paristan, Tehsil Ramsu,^[2] part of the Ramban District of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. His family was not involved in politics. His father Muzaffer Ahmed Khan is an engineer and his mother is a housewife; Fairoz's grandfather, Mohd Yousf Khan, was an influential contractor in the area. Fairoz's great-grandfather, Gahlum Kouider, was the sarpanch of Pogal Paristan. Fairoz Khan is the eldest of two brothers and four sisters. The family is credited with bringing high schools to the village.^[3][4][5]

Education

Khan completed his primary education through fourth grade in Ramban; seventh and eighth grades at Adnaan Model Academy, Banihal; ninth through eleventh grades at Government. High Secondary School, Ramban; and twelfth grade from Happy Model High Secondary School, Udhampur. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Government PG (Post Graduate) College Bhaderwah, and a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Masters of Arts in Political Science (MA) from Jammu University. At the university, he was an active student leader^[6] and protested against what he described as the university's "anti-student" policies.^[7] He is still pursuing his studies there.

Political career

Fairoz Khan at a reception on becoming National Secretary of the NSUI in Jammu and Kashmir

At the age of 28, Khan was sworn-in as the president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). He was the first Kashmiri to hold this post.^[8]

Khan and his team can be credited with laying the foundation of the NSUI in Kashmir and Ladakh. He has in-charge status for Andhra Pradesh and had remained in charge of many states including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Telengana. He has worked in Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections and various state assembly elections.^[9] He worked to open the mobile schools for students from the former district of Doda.^[10] At an NSUI meeting, Khan discussed the need to open a university campus in Ramban.^[11]

Khan was appointed National Secretary of the NSUI on 16 December 2012,^[1][9][12] from a field of 120 candidates. Rohit Choudhary made the selection, with final approval coming from Rahul Gandhi.^[13] After his appointment, Khan was greeted by many supporters at the Jammu airport.^[14] Since his appointment, Khan has spoken at many rallies and seminars, such as a seminar about deforestation on 31 July 2012.^[15] He runs the online budget campaign of Agra University.^[16][17]

Khan was given charge of Andhra Pradesh NSUI and reformed the election process to be more democratic, opening the doors to common students. These elections brought in a new team from the student body.

Rallies

The following is an incomplete list of rallies that Khan has organised or taken part in:

• On 4 August 2011, the NSUI launched an anti-ragging (anti-hazing) rally under Khan's leadership at Jammu University to address fear among the freshmen.^[18]
• On 12 August 2011 (International Youth Day), Khan spoke at a NSUI rally in Jammu on the theme of "Youth Against Terrorism".^[19]
• On 27 March 2012, Khan led students and NSUI members in a protest rally against the Jammu Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKOSE). Claiming the board's examination system was faulty, students chanted slogans and burned an effigy of the board chairman.^[20]
• On 12 August 2012,^[21] Khan spoke at a rally in Kupwara that was organized by the Pradesh Youth Congress, arguing for the implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendment of the Panchayat Raj Act.
• On 28 August 2012, Khan spoke at a NSUI rally where students boycotted classes at Jammu University over the faculty's "anti-student policies".^[22]
• On 7 December 2013, Khan spoke at a rally in Rampur, where he and other members of the NSUI discussed upcoming elections.^[23]
• On 15 October 2011, Khan led a rally with a large number of activists of Chenab Valley People's Association (CVPA) at Jammu University, protesting against the transport system in Jammu and Kashmir. Khan said that it was a shame that even after the enormous increase in transport problems, the state did not have an effective road transport policy.^[24][25]

Movements

Khan started a movement against the Jammu Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) over mass copying in exams, leading a series of protests and a signature campaign against the JKSSB and the government of Jammu and Kashmir. On December 25, Khan said that there was mass copying in all JKSSB centres on a paper for graduate-level posts. The JKSSB canceled 25 December exams for graduate-level posts and accepted all NSUI demands.

Khan congratulated students and NSUI leaders for their struggle and thanked the media for highlighting their demands.^{[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]}

Fight for fees reimbursement

Khan led the fight against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government in Telangana where more than 14 lakhs (1.4 million) students were suffering and many had taken their lives. He was in charge of many rallies and protests as well as the "Campus Chalo Yatra" – a bus full of student leaders that visited the campus in Telangana to see how much students are suffering due to non-release of fees reimbursements. Later on the Congress party also came in support.

Chenab Valley People's Association

Khan is the head of the Chenab Valley People's Association (CVPA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) operating throughout the Chenab Valley.

Campaign for the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act

Khan on the roads of Jammu and Kashmir for implementation of the Right to Education Act

The NSUI has been working to implement the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) in Jammu and Kashmir.^[37] Khan spoke at a rally on 3 September 2012,^[38][39] demanding the Act's implementation^[40]

Kashmir floods

Khan worked from the start of the floods in Jammu and Kashmir. He rescued people using boats; distributed food, fresh drinking water and clothes; and set up medical camps under the banner of the NSUI. He led the NSUI's relief work in Kashmir and Poonch. When All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi interacted with flood victims, Khan coordinated the overall interaction program.^{[41][42][43][44]}

Awards

Khan has won numerous local awards, including Best District President and many debate competitions.

References