New Delhi, Mar 4: Former IFS and MP Syed Shahabuddin passed away on Saturdaymorning at a hospital in Noida after suffering from prolonged illness. He was 82.
During his time, Shahabuddin had strongly opposed the demolition of the Babri Masjid and was the leader of the Babri Action Committee.
Born in 1935, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Shahabuddin began working as a diplomat for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), but later became a politician. He was also a leader of Janata Dal and served three terms from 1979-1996 as a MP.
He is well known for his involvement in the Shah Bano case and his opposition to the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
Shahabuddin served as a diplomat, an ambassador and also a politician. He was the Joint Secretary in charge of South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific in the Ministry of External Affairs.
He founded the Insaf Party in 1989 (dissolved in 1990 and later revived). He is known for his strong belief in the federal structure of India and his desire to see more people participating at every level of governance.
On 16 November 2012 he published an open letter to Narendra Modi regarding Muslim voters, amongst other things. He has often called for persistent action against corruption, nepotism and inefficiency, for democracy within political parties and for equitable distribution of national income and resources in order to provide a life of minimum dignity for all people.
He was involved with many Muslim institutions and organizations including the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, of which he was the President between 2004 and 2007.
Shahabuddin edited the research monthly journal Muslim India between 1983 and 2002 and again from July 2006. He is a regular contributor to TV discussions relating to current affairs. He has written many for the Saudi Arabian newspaper Arab News.
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