James Masih Shera Explained

James Masih Shera (6 March 1946 – 15 January 2024) was a Pakistani-born British politician and educationist who was Mayor of Rugby.^{[1] [2]}

Personal life

James Masih Shera was born in a small rural village in Pakistan on 6 March 1946.^{[3] [4]} He died on 15 January 2024, at the age of 77.^[5]

Career

In 1988, Shera became the first Pakistani to be elected Mayor of Rugby.^{[6] [7]} He was leader of the Labour Group in Rugby from 2005 to 2022. He also served as Chair Overview and Scrutiny Board, Rugby Borough Council from 2010 to 2014. In 2014, Shera made a record by getting elected as a councilor for the 10th consecutive term.^[8]

Awards and recognition

• In 1992, he received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz from the President of Pakistan.^{[9] [10]}
• He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 Birthday Honours, for services to the NHS and communities in the West Midlands.^{[11] [12]}
• A road has been named in Rugby as ‘James Shera Way' in recognition of his campaigns as chair of the council of fellows of Warwickshire College.^[13]
• In 2010, the University of Bedfordshire gave him an honorary doctorate of Business and Administration.^[14]
• In 2017, he was awarded “Freedom of the Borough of Rugby”.^[15]
• In 2021, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan awarded him honorary PhD in Arts & Letters.
• In March 2023, he received the Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam from the President of Pakistan.^[16]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Beloved ex-mayor receives another prestigious honour . 5 April 2023 . Rugby Observer . en.
2. Book: Raj, Selva J. . South Asian Christian Diaspora: Invisible Diaspora in Europe and North America . 1 April 2016 . Routledge . 978-1-317-05229-6 . en.
3. Web site: Green . Mike . Councillors pay tribute to Cllr James Shera after 40 years' service . 5 April 2023 . www.rugby.gov.uk . en . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405034227/https://www.rugby.gov.uk/news/article/1736/councillors_pay_tribute_to_cllr_james_shera_after_40_years_service#:~:text=Cllr%20Shera%20was%20made%20an,the%20borough%20council%20can%20bestow. . dead .
4. Web site: 10 September 2022 . Dr.James Shera; The pride and true face of Pakistan - Daily City News . 5 April 2023 . en-US.
5. https://www.britishasianchristians.org/baca-news/in-memoriam-james-masih-shera-mbe-6th-march1946-15th-january-2024/ In Memoriam: James Masih Shera MBE (6th March 1946 – 15th January 2024)
6. Web site: Labour leaders praise Rugby's longest-serving councillor at celebration event . 5 April 2023 . Rugby Observer . en.
7. Web site: 6 May 2018 . Pakistani Dr James Shera makes historic record in England's Politics . 5 April 2023 . Times of Islamabad . en.
8. Web site: Two doctorates for Rugby's longest-serving councillor after decades of work to promote intercultural harmony .
9. Web site: Tribute paid to Dr James Shera . 5 April 2023 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
10. Book: Ahmed, Akbar . The Thistle and the Drone: How America's War on Terror Became a Global War on Tribal Islam . 27 February 2013 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-0-8157-2379-0 . en.
11. News: 16 June 2007 . Queen's birthday honours: MBEs . en-GB . The Guardian . 6 April 2023 . 0261-3077.
12. United Kingdom list:
13. Web site: www.webspider.pk . Web Spider (pvt) Ltd . In Conversation with Dr. James Shera . 4 September 2023 . www.hilal.gov.pk . en.
14. Web site: Pakistani Christian educationist selected for 'Freedom' honour . 4 September 2023 . www.geo.tv . en.
15. Web site: 13 March 2017 . Pakistani Christian educationist selected for 'Freedom' honour . 5 April 2023 . The News International . en.
16. Web site: Dr James Shera honoured with Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam . 17 August 2022 .