balaji@bacall.UUCP (Balaji Narasimhan) (09/30/86)
Asghar Ali Engineer is a well-known Muslim activist and researcher. Although an engineer by background, he has been extremely interested in social sciences. He founded the Institute of Islamic Studies which has produced studies and literature on the conditions of Muslims in India. He is also a respected journalist, commentator and analyst in the field of civil liberties and minority rights in India. For over 20 years, he has been closely involved with movements against communal violence. His writings appear in major newspapers including the Indian Express and the Times of India, and magazines including the Economic and Political Weekly and the Illustrated Weekly of India. Asghar Ali's interests are not purely academic; he takes an active role in dealing with problems faced by the Muslim community. Whenever there are riots anywhere, Engineer would travel to the affected area, talk to people from all the communities to get at the roots of the riots, and report about them. He has also led many investigative commissions to uncover the socio-political forces behind communal riots. Mr. Engineer's interests and activities do not just stop with the investigations and writing articles; he has also helped in relief activities. He was vice-president of the Anti-Communal front in Bombay. He is currently actively involved in trying to quench the flames of the sinister orgy of communal violence in Gujarat, his home state, and to bring succor to the victims. Mr. Engineer who comes from Dawoodi Bohra community, has also been active in initiaiting reforms within his own community despite threats to his life by the Dawoodi Bhora establishment. He was the secretary general of the Central Board of the Dawoodi Bohra community. Mr. Engineer has written a number of books including the most recent book, Indian Muslims: A study of the minority problems in India, as well as the Origin and development of Islam. Asghar Ali has also contributed scholarly articles on islamic jurisprudence and Urdu literature. Some of his Urdu writings have been published in both India and Pakistan. Asghar Ali is willing to visit the U.S. and give talks and lectures on the current movements and struggles for civil rights, minority rights, democratic rights, etc. He could provide a unique, first-hand account of the growing communal siutation in India not available in the regular media. Towards planning his visit, we need to get responses to the following queries: 1. What places will be interested in helping organize a talk by Engineer? What month (over the next 6 months) will be convenient for that? 2. What financial committment can be provided to cover the expenses involved? A rough estimate of the expenses is: a) air travel from India + local ~ $1500-2000 b) honorarium/donations to Engineer for his activities ~ $1500-2000 Total ~$3000-4000. It will be worth our while to explore the possibility of getting some funding from some foundations, departments, etc., in North America. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please explore them or let us know. ****************