Khurshed Alam Khan Explained

Khurshed Alam Khan
1Blankname:Chief Minister
Term Start:6 January 1992
Term End:2 December 1999
1Blankname2:Chief Minister
Term Start2:18 July 1989
Term End2:17 March 1991
Successor2:Bhanu Prakash Singh
Term Start3:1984
Term End3:1989
Predecessor3:Daya Ram Shakya
Successor3:Santosh Bhartiya
Term Start4:5 July 1980
Term End4:6 December 1984
Term Start5:16 April 1974
Term End5:15 April 1980
Birth Date:5 February 1919
Birth Place:Farrukhabad, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
(now in Uttar Pradesh, India)
Birthname:Khurshed Alam Khan
Nationality:Indian
Spouse:Saeeda Khurshid
Relations:Zakir Husain (father-in-law)
Shah Jahan Begum (mother-in-law)
Children:Salman Khurshid[1]

Khurshed Alam Khan (5 February 1919 – 20 July 2013) was an Indian politician and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress political party.[2] [3]

He was Governor of Karnataka from 1991 to 1999 and governor of Goa from 1989 to 1991. Before that, he was Union minister of External affairs in Government of India. He was associated with Jamia Millia Islamia.

Early life

Khurshed Alam Khan was born on 5 February 1919 in Pitaura, Kaimganj, Farrukhabad District of Uttar Pradesh into a Muslim family of Pashtun descent, tracing their lineage to the Afridi and Kheshgi Tribes of Afghanistan.[4] After his early education, he joined the Agra University as a student of St. John's College, where, he obtained bachelor's and master's degree in History. He was also a student at the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., where he completed a course in Management Studies.

Khan had an interest in education. He was a member of the Governing Body of Dr. Zakir Husain Memorial College, New Delhi. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the YMCA Institute of Engineering, Faridabad. His abiding interest had been in the Jamia Millia Islamia University at Delhi.

Political career

It was through the efforts of Khan that Parliament enacted a Law whereby the Jamia Millia Islamia became an independent University. Khurshed Alam Khan was the Chancellor of this university. He was also member of Council of Indian Institutes of Technology.

Khurshed Alam Khan was a Parliamentarian for over 15 years as a member of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. He was the member of the Rajya Sabha from 1974 to 1984 and the member of the 8th Lok Sabha from 1984 to 1989, representing Farrukhabad constituency. He was a Member of the Union Council of ministers and has handled various portfolios, namely, External Affairs, Tourism, Civil Aviation, Textiles and Commerce.

As minister for External Affairs, he toured extensively in the world. He addressed the United Nations Security Council on several occasions. The Foreign ministers' Conference of Non-Aligned Countries at Delhi and Luanda was presided over by him. In 1988, he represented India at the Republican Party Convention of the U.S.A.

He resigned his Lok Sabha seat when he was appointed the Governor of Goa on 18 July 1989. He also officiated as the Governor of Maharashtra. He has been the Governor of Karnataka since 6 January 1991. He also officiated as the Governor of Kerala.

The areas of special interest to Khurshed Alam Khan were education, tourism, transport and urban development. Reading and Horticulture were favorite pastimes to which he devoted considerable time. Khurshed Alam Khan was the son-in-law of Dr. Zakir Hussain, the third President of India, married to his older daughter, Saeeda Khurshid. Salman Khurshid, former Union Minister for External Affairs (Indian Foreign Minister), is the son of Khurshed Alam Khan. He also has three daughters. He also has several grandchildren, and was also present for a large part of his great-grandchildren's lives.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Salman Khurshid's father Khursheed Alam Khan passes away . 25 October 2022 . 20 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025144228/https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/salman-khurshid-s-father-khursheed-alam-khan-passes-away-11301.html . 25 October 2022 . en.
  2. Web site: PTI . Former Union minister Khurshed Alam Khan passes away at 95 – The Economic Times . Economictimes.indiatimes.com . 1994-12-11 . 2013-07-21.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023153300/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Salman-Khurshid-India-s-illustrious-new-Muslim-foreign-minister/Article1-951358.aspx
  4. Web site: Network . L. I. . 2021-04-29 . SALMAN KHURSHID ALAM KHAN . 2023-06-30 . Law Insider India . en-US.