Syed Zafar Mahmood
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]
[edit] Education
Dr. Mahmood was educated at Aligarh Muslim University
[edit] 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]
[edit] References
- ^ Page (iv) - http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/sachar/sachar_comm.pdf
- ^ Page (v) - http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/sachar/sachar_comm.pdf
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/world/asia/29india.html
- ^ http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=26431§ion_id=4
- ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0104/p01s04-wosc.html
- ^ http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/3570/secular_democracy_indias_strength.html
- ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/88841/
- ^ http://www.zakatindia.org
- ^ http://www.icpindia.org
- ^ http://www.godgraces.org
- ^ http://www.oneworldchildrensfund.org/AsiaProjects.html
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/04/30/stories/2009043050850100.htm
- ^ http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/09/01/natpkg.india.ramadan.charity.cnn
- ^ http://kuow.org/program.php?id=12430
- ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Government-rejects-Sachar-recommendation-on-Wakf-boards/articleshow/4963643.cms
