Akhtarul Wasey

Akhtarul Wasey (born 1 September 1951) is a professor of Islamic studies who taught at Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University) in New Delhi. Currently, he is the president of Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur, India, and professor emeritus in the Department of Islamic Studies in Jamia Millia Islamia.

Professor Emeritus Akhtarul Wasey
Born	1 September 1951[1] Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh[1]
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	Indian
Occupation	Professor
Years active	1977[1]-present
Known for	Contribution to Islamic studies
Title	Professor emeritus
Board member of	President, Maulana Azad University of Jodhpur[2]
Awards	Honorary D. Litt. conferred by Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad (2020), Padma Shri (2013),[3] Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Award for Interfaith Understanding,[1] Maulana Mohd. Ali Jauhar Award (1996),[1] Urdu Academy, Delhi and UP (1985),[1] Fulbright Fellowship (2008)[1]
Academic background
Education	B. A. (Aligarh), 1971,[4] B. Th. (Aligarh), 1975,[4] M. Th. (Aligarh), 1976,[4] M. A. (Aligarh), 1977,[4] Diploma in Turkish Language, (Istanbul), 1983[4]
Alma mater	Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh,[4] Istanbul University, Istanbul[4]
Thesis	Education of Indian Muslims: A study of the All-India Muslim Educational Conference, 1886-1947[5] (1977[5])
Academic work
Discipline	Islamic studies[1]
Institutions	Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi,[1] National Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India,[3]

Early life and education

Wasey was born on 1 September 1951, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, as the first child of six, to Hairat bin Wahid and Shahida Hairat. His early education was at Primary School No. 16, which was run and managed by the local municipal board. For secondary education, he was admitted to the City High School of Aligarh Muslim University and went on to attend Aligarh Muslim University and earn the degrees of BA (Hons.) Islamic studies, Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theology, and MA (Islamic studies) from Aligarh Muslim University in 1971, 1975, 1976, and 1977, respectively. He also completed a short-term course in the Turkish language from Istanbul University in 1983. [6]

Career

Since 1978, Wasey has served as a lecturer in Jamia Milia Islamia. He also worked as the director of Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia. He later became Head of the Department of Islamic Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Languages, Jamia Millia Islamia.

Prof. Akhtarul Wasey was appointed by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, as the 12th Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India w.e.f 4 March 2014 for the tenure of three years. Wasey was the first Commissioner from an Urdu speaking community to occupy this position since its creation in 1957.

Literary works

Wasey co-authored Maulānā Abūlkalām Āzād ke muḥaqqiq Ḍākṭar Abū Salmān Shāhjahānpūrī: shak̲h̲ṣīyat aur adabī k̲h̲idmāt (The research scholar of Abul Kalam Azad, Abu Salman Shahjahanpuri: Life and academic works).[7]

Awards and honors

In 2013 Wasey received a Padma Shri award[8] from President Pranab Mukherjee. This award honoured Wasey as a distinguished academician, specializing in the multidisciplinary study of Islam and Indian Muslims.

References

1. Padma Shri Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, 6 April 2013, Siasat.
2. Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, President of Maulana Azad University.
3. Akhtarul Wasey Padma Shri Awarded in 2013
4. Faculty members, Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Milia Islamia.
5. Hathi Trust
6. "A New Turn". thehindu.
7. "Maulānā Abūlkalām Āzād ke muḥaqqiq Ḍākṭar Abū Salmān Shāhjahānpūrī : shak̲h̲ṣīyat aur adabī k̲h̲idmāt". WorldCat. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
8. "Halal in India: Prof. Akhtarul Wasey is among the Recipient of Padamshree Awards 2013". Halalinindia.info. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.