Brief Biodata of Syed Shahabuddin, IFS (Retd.), ex-MP
Mr. Syed Shahabuddin, former Ambassador, former Member of Parliament, Advocate Supreme Court and former Editor Muslim India, the well-known monthly Journal of Documentation, President of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat.
On 4 November 1935 at Ranchi; s of Syed Nizamuddin and Sakina Khatoon; m Shaher Bano, 1958; six children.
Education:
M.Sc., 1956, Gold Medalist throughout. B.L. 1969
Experience: Student:
Represented the University as Debater; Served as Convener of Patna University Students Action Committee to organize protest against Police Firing (1955); Drafted University Union Constitution and piloted it through the Steering Committee (1956).
Teaching:
Served as Lecturer in Physics, Patna University, 56-58.
Diplomacy: Joined IFS,
May, 58; served as Vice Consul/Consul, New York, 59-61; Second Secretary, Rangoon, 61-63, First Secretary, Jeddah, 63-65, Under Secretary/Deputy Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, 66-69; Charge d’Affairs in Caracas, Venezuela 69-72; Ambassador to Algeria and Mauritania, 72-75 and Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, 75-78. Took premature retirement to enter public life in November 78.
Law:
Enrolled as Advocate, Patna High Court and Supreme Court of India since 1.1.1979.
Politics:
Served as Member, Manifesto Committee (1979) and Minorities Committee of Janata Party, Gen Sec (1980-85), Member, National Executive, 1980-1988, Founder-President, Insaf Party, 1989-91; Member, National Executive, Janata Dal, 1991-1994. Member, Rajya Sabha from Bihar, 1979-84, Lok Sabha (Kishanganj, Bihar), 1985-89 and 1991-96.
Social Work:
Ex-Vice-Chairman, Haj Committee of India; Member, Aligarh Muslim University Court and ex-Member Executive Council; ex-Member: Academic Council; Member, Working Committee, All India Muslim Personal Law Board since 1980; Convener, Babari Masjid Movement Coordination Committee since December, 1986, elected President of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 & 2006. Nominated Chairman Ajmer Sharif Dargah Committee, 1991, Nominated Member of National Integration Council and CentralWakf Council, 2005, Member, Indian Council of World Affairs, Member, Indian Institute of Public Administration, ex-Member, Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, Member PUCL, INTACH, IIC & IICC.
Journalism: Edited Muslim India Monthly, 1983-2002 and again since July 2006.
Has written extensively on constitutional questions, human rights, minority rights and current affairs in Indian and foreign papers.
Travel and Conferences: Has travelled widely in West Asia, North Africa, South and South-east Asia, Europe and America. Has participated in many international Conferences, both inter-governmental and non-governmental.