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  Hamid Ali KhanHamid Ali Khan, my paternal grandfather, was a great inspiration to all that knew him. His dedication to education, discipline in life, and straight-talking style endeared him to some very powerful political figures, not to forget the positions of prominence that were offered to him as a direct result of these qualities. He was a close associate of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister and a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi. He was also a close friend of Dr. Zakir Hussain, India's third President. More on that relationship a little bit later. L to R: Hamid Ali Khan, The Honourable Pandit Nehru, British Viceroy to India during The British Raj Education was his passion and led him to the United Nations as India's permanent representative when Prime Minister Nehru hand picked him for the role. Hamid Ali Khan was assigned to the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, where he was part of a team of experts involved in the evolution of innovative educational methods. The (Late) Honourable President Zakir Hussain Hamid Ali Khan was the Managing Director of Maktaba Jamia located in New Delhi. Jamia Millia, or National University, was formed when anti-colonial activism and pro-independence aspirations of the politically radical section of western educated Indian Muslim intelligentsia gravitated together with Mahatma Gandhi as a catalyst. Hamid Ali Khan was also one of the experts on the Central Advisory Board of Education for the Ministry of Education. As a result of these roles he was instrumental in laying the foundation for education standards, locally and globally, at the grassroots level. The following story is testament to the high regard in which his friend, President Zakir Hussain, held him. "Once Gerda Philipsborn - a very close friend of the President - kept the dish over for the next day’s lunch. The weather was quite warm and there being no refrigerator, the dish turned bad. When Dr.Zakir Husain and a friend, Hamid Ali Khan came for lunch, he tasted the dish and then did not allow Hamid Ali Khan to share it. He conducted the whole affair in such a way that Gerda Philipsborn, the hostess and Hamid Ali Khan ate freshly cooked dishes while he himself ate the dish which had turned bad."Excerpt from Zakir Hussain.com Inspired by my grandfathers accomplishments I hope to carry on his legacy by establishing strategic alliances that will enable us to take On line teaching into conflict zones around the world as a means of waging a Non-Violent War on Terror to reinforce and endorse the already ongoing military War on Terror. I hope that we will be able to establish On line Education as the Ahimsa Component of the War on Terror. Seema |
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