Introduction
Dr.
Syed Zafar Mahmood
Born 8 June 1951
CISRS House, Mathura Road, (facing Hotel Rajdoot). New Delhi 110014
Ph.D. (Public Administration); M.A. (Political Science) - Gold Medalist; B.Sc. (Honors) Physics; Courses in Computer Appreciation and Journalism.
FORMERLY:
1. Officer on Special Duty, Prime Minister's High Level
Committee for Muslims (later popularly known as Sachar Committee)
2. Chief Commissioner and on other positions of Income-tax: Delhi, Jaipur,
Kolkata, Patna, Agra, Bareilly, Aligarh, Faizabad.
3. First Secretary, Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia
4. Director, Indian International Schools in Saudi Arabia
5. Administrator, Combined Waqf Board of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and
Chandigarh.
6. National Level Monitor for overseeing implementation of the central
government minorities welfare schemes.
7. Dy. Director General, Trustee and Treasurer, India Islamic Cultural Centre
1993-2003 .
(Works done in various Govt positions is mentioned at the end of this CV)
CURRENTLY:
8. Founder President, Zakat Foundation of India (1997 till date)
www.zakatindia.org
Academically bright but financially needy graduates are selected annually
through professionally conducted Test & Interview and they are sponsored in
successful institutes in Delhi for Civil Services coaching. The scheme gives
very good results year after year; even one ZFI Fellow topped in IAS
Examination, 2010.
ZFI’s Department of Community Monitoring oversees the implementation of
Government welfare schemes for the deprived sections of society.
Hundreds of very poor children are sponsored and educated in different
educational institutions with hostel facility. Candidates are helped in filling
application forms for many other jobs and coached. Established in Delhi, Happy
Homes India (separate orphanages for boys and girls), Mercy Home India,
charitable medical centre in areas with large labor population. Seriously ill
patients are got treated at reputed hospitals bearing full expenses like kidney
/ liver transplant, implantation of steel rod, etc. Distribution, on monthly
basis, of uncooked food items among widows and other indigent women. Helping
families stand on their feet and become self-employed. Getting poor girls
married. ZFI Team visited Tamilnadu’s Tsunami affected areas, West Bengal’s
poverty stricken families, Kashmir’s earthquake hit region and Gujarat’s
disturbed districts - provided medical assistance and helped the poor to restart
their normal life.
Oganized 12 National Level Workshops in Zonal Districts of India located in and
around 90 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs). Apprised the participants
about state minority welfare schemes and trained them how to monitor the
implementation of these schemes using Right to Information Act. Established
Darul Hijrat camp for Burmese Refugees.
9. Founder President, Interfaith Coalition for Peace, New Delhi since 2005
www.icpindia.org
Interfaith Coalition for Peace believes in a common destiny of mankind based on
love and peaceful coexistence. It has dedicated itself to chisel a family across
the world that honors the sovereignty of God, respects human dignity, honors the
feelings and opinions of different communities, upholds their religious and
human rights and promotes justice, peace and mutual respect. ICP works with the
civil society, NGOs, autonomous institutions. It joins hands with the religious
and faith groups and cooperates in creating and nurturing an atmosphere of trust
and understanding.
At ICP, research is carried out for finding commonalities among scriptures,
precepts and practices of various faiths, developing and publishing them and
taking them to the masses, encouraging awareness and interaction, capacity
building, conflict resolution, reconciliation and praxis. Programs are held all
over India with substantial local help.
10. Founder Chairman, God's Grace Group of Educational Institutions (1996 till
date) www.godgraces.org
Community College under IG National Open University, God’s Grace Study Centre
for professional courses under Hamdard University, God's Grace Schools in Delhi.
Organized 9 month Java/eCommerce NIIT Course for poor students and got them
placed in jobs. Ran Coaching Centres with best city tutors for Secondary / Sr
Secondary students (subsidized under Upward Bound Scheme).
11. Founder Chairman, Iqbal Academy India www.iqbalindia.org
Represented India:
Parliament of World Religions, Melbourne 2009, Interfaith Conventions Oslo and London 2006, Two phases (3-4 wks each) international project titled "Islamic Life in US" 2004-06 organized by American Department of State, Partnership of Civilizations, St. Petersburg, Russia 2007, First International Consultation of Muslim Scholars, Islamabad 2005, International Charity Convention, Hyderabad, India 2007, Global Minorities Meet, New Delhi 2007 and South Asian Consultations on Peace Building in Religions, New Delhi, India 2008.
Delivered Extension Lectures:
(a) Harvard University (Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs –
Project on India and the Subcontinent);
(b) House of Lords, London
(c) Microsoft Headquarters, Seattle USA.
(d) World Council of Religions, Melbourne, Autralia
(e) Muslim Council of Britain
(f) International Islamic University, Brunei
(g) International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
(h) Indian Universities of Aligarh, Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Hamdard,
Madras, Integral (Lucknow), Science & Technology (Guwahati), Kashmir, Calicut,
Kolkata, Pune, etc
Publications:
Book: Paikaar-e-Zindagi (Urdu)
Coffee Table Album: Jahaan-e-Makafaat.
Articles: In leading national newspapers / periodicals / magazines on
topics related with interfaith, educational and socio-economic uplift of weaker
sections in English, Urdu and Hindi - Times of India, Hindustan Times, Hindu,
Rashtriya Sahara, Inqilab, Milli Gazette, The Eastern Post, The Islamic Voice,
Radiance.
TV Discussions:
Participated in 48 scholarly panel discussions on welfare topics on many TV
channels. Organized interfaith programs which were telecast at prime time.
Addressed interfaith/educational/socio-conomic amelioration meets in 23 states
of India and 14 countries - USA, UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Australia, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Qatar, Oman, Brunei, Pakistan, UAE.
Journalistic acumen:
Now chief editor, quarterly ‘Zakat India’ and 'Mera Payaam' published from New Delhi, Earlier edited University English Magazine at AMU 1972-73, IRS House Journal at NADT Nagpur 1978-79 and 'India News' at Indian Consulate, Jeddah 1990-91. Rendered and published English version of famous poems including "Message of Peace" and "Adam's Travelogue".
Works done in various Govt positions:
Government positions held (30 years)
Officer on Special Duty, Prime Minister’s High Level Committee (2005-07)
for preparation of Report on Social, Economic and Educational Status of the
Muslim Community of India. Report (including more than 350 graphs, charts and
boxes) was submitted to the Prime Minister on 17 Nov 2006, tabled in Parliament
on 30 Nov 2006, later accepted by the Central Government through Cabinet
decision and is now under implementation. Cabinet notes on constitution of Equal
Opportunity Commission and for evolving Incentives based on Diversity Index have
been submitted, instructions have been issued for opening bank branches in
minority areas, guidelines have been issues for improving minority
representation in government and public sector, national data bank has been set
up in Ministry of Statistics & Program Implementation, an Assessment &
Monitoring Authority has been set up under Planning Commission and 13
universities have been provided funds to study social exclusion and inclusive
policy for minorities and scheduled castes and tribes
National Level Monitor for overseeing implementation of welfare schemes
for Minorities 2010-11.
Visited selected interiors of Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) to
monitor the implementation of Government Schemes for Welfare of Minorities.
Indian First Secretary / Consul (Haj) and Director of Indian
International Schools in Saudi Arabia (1988-91)
Streamlined and computerized the Indian Haj Management in Saudi Arabia.
Introduced a consolidated and intertwined Annual Haj Plan for the Ministries of
External Affairs, Civil Aviation and Health, Central Haj Committee in Mumbai,
State Haj Committees, Indian Consulate in Jeddah and Indian Haj Offices in the
Holy Cities and Jeddah Airport
Persuaded Saudi authorities to accept pilgrims' compulsory dues in
consolidated form from the Indian mission; this saved hours of troublesome wait
by tens of thousands of Indian pilgrims at Saudi arrival terminals. Introduced
Prearranged Accommodation Scheme preempting exploitation of Indian pilgrims in
the Kingdom. Got pilgrims' sea journey discontinued as it was uneconomical,
unhealthy and wrought with possibilities of prohibited cargo
Opened new Indian schools in five Saudi cities. Expanded and streamlined
existing schools. Conceived and pioneered the new Indian School in Jeddah for
10,000 students
Administrator, Combined Wakf Board of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh and Chandigarh (1998-99)
In 75 Wakf Board-run modern educational institutions academic and
technical standard was upgraded, merit based scholarships were introduced and
discipline was improved. Computerised the particulars of 36,000 wakf properties
spread over 36 districts of Punjab, Haryana, H.P. and Chandigarh. Modernised
educational syllabi in 500 Madarsas and Maktabs in these states. Rationalized
450 Imams' salary structure. Got appointed Wakf Tribunal (for fast decision of
disputed titles) and Wakf Survey Commissioners as provided in the Wakf Act.
Cleaned up Wakf management by taking strong administrative action and
fine-tuning of the rules & regulations.
Chief Commissioner of Income-tax
Worked in the fields of Administration, Information Collection, Research,
Publications, Survey, Investigation, Assessment, Public Relations, Publicity,
Statistics, Accounts, Audit, Recovery and Appeals in Delhi, West Bengal,
Rajasthan, Bihar, U. P. and Maharashtra. Topped the All-India list of IRS
officers at the time of promotion. Composed and uploaded first web site of
Income-tax Department. Drafted and published 'Citizens Charter'
Dy. Director General, Trustee and Treasurer
India Islamic Cultural Centre (1993-2003)
Collected funds from central/state Governments, companies and
professionals and built the triple storied IICC structure on Lodi Road in New
Delhi. Established Task Force on Employment and Training facilitating
interaction between job seekers and officials of Govt. organizations providing
technical training. Organized seminars & group discussions on topics of national
interest and social gatherings to celebrate festivals associated with different
faiths: Eid, Diwali, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Christmas.
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