Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam, the architect of India's premier Muslim think tank and a tireless advocate for the marginalised, passed away on January 13, 2026, at age 80 in a Delhi hospital. His death robs Indian Muslims of a strategist who bridged scholarship, faith, and social justice amid rising majoritarianism.
Born October 9, 1945, in Ranipur village, Madhubani, Bihar, to Late M. Abdul Jaleel, Dr. Manzoor Alam grew up in a devout, principled family where simplicity and purpose shaped character. Aligarh Muslim University awarded him a Ph.D. in Economics, igniting a vision of economics as a tool for equity, not just numbers. This rural-rooted scholar soon scaled global heights, serving as Economic Advisor in Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance, Associate Professor of Islamic Economics at Imam Mohammad bin Saud University, and Chief Coordinator for Quran translations at King Fahd Complex in Madinah.
Dr. Manzoor Alam's international stature shone through roles like Chief Representative for International Islamic University Malaysia in India, IDB Scholarship Committee member, and affiliations with the International Institute of Islamic Thought (USA), Istanbul Talks, and World Islamic Forum. Yet India claimed his deepest loyalties: Founding Chairman and Chief Patron of Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) since 1986, General Secretary of All India Milli Council (co-founded with Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi), President of Indo-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum and Indian Association of Muslim Social Scientists, and member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
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| October 9,1945 - January 13, 2026 |
Under Dr. Manzoor Alam, IOS—recognized by UN ECOSOC—completed over 410 projects, published 405 books and reports, and hosted 1,230 seminars on rights, diversity, and minorities. He managed firms like Genuine Publications (led by son Ibrahim Alam) and mentored generations, fostering dialogues with leaders like Manmohan Singh, Ahmed Patel, and Anwar Ibrahim. His 2025 biography, Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam: Empowering the Marginalised by A.U. Asif, captures this era-defining force.
Few matched Dr. Manzoor Alam's special talent for spotting young authors, scholars, researchers, and activists—nurturing them with essential tools, funding, and platforms to amplify their voices for the community. He thrust them onto national and global stages, turning raw promise into lasting impact. This writer counts himself among those fortunate few, lifted by his quiet faith in emerging talent.
In Congress eras and BJP dominance, Dr. Manzoor Alam navigated power corridors not for personal gain but community uplift—pushing education, constitutional safeguards, and justice. Tributes flood in: SDPI's Mohammad Shafi calls it "irreparable"; journalist Iftikhar Geelani hails his selfless service. Survived by wife, five sons (including IOS Secretary General Mohammad Alam), and two daughters, Dr. Manzoor Alam leaves unrealized dreams like an Islamic university in Palwal—but his institutions endure.
Dr. Manzoor Alam's quiet institution-building outlives him, a bulwark against erasure in a fraying republic.
Source :
- https://www.muslimnetwork.tv/indian-muslim-scholar-dr-manzoor-alam-dies-at-80/
- https://millattimes.com/renowned-thinker-and-founder-of-ios-dr-mohammad-manzoor-alam-passes-away-in-delhi/
- https://www.the100indianmuslims.com/a/Manzoor-Alam
- http://indianmuslimlegends.blogspot.com/2012/02/307-dr-mohammad-manzoor-alam.html
- https://www.mpositive.in/tag/ios-the-first-muslim-run-think-tank-in-india/
- https://www.perplexity.ai/search/655ca346-3a68-4350-90a2-732e968ce76a
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