
What does Ali Khan Mahmudabad teach at Ashoka University?
, a prominent academic at
, was arrested on Sunday following a complaint filed by a
leader. The arrest stems from a social media post he made in response to public praise for
. The post, which has since been deleted, read: 'I am very happy to see so many right wing commentators applauding Colonel Sofiya Qureshi but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens.
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The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important, but optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it's just hypocrisy.'
Police confirmed that Mahmudabad was taken into custody under relevant sections of the law related to promoting enmity. The arrest has triggered sharp reactions from the academic community and civil liberties groups, who argue that criticism of state policy should not be grounds for criminal action.
Courses rooted in History, Identity, and Political Thought
At Ashoka University, Ali Khan Mahmudabad serves as Head of the Department of History and is an associate professor of
. His academic instruction centers on the intellectual and political history of modern South Asia, with a strong emphasis on nationalism, religious identity, and communalism. He is known for guiding students through complex historical events with a critical lens and for fostering open discussions on state, identity, and belonging.
His curriculum often merges rigorous historical research with contemporary political discourse, encouraging students to explore the intersections of religion, language, and law in shaping public life in India.
A distinguished education across continents
Mahmudabad's academic path reflects both depth and diversity. After completing primary education at La Martiniere in Lucknow, he continued schooling in the United Kingdom at King's College School, followed by Winchester College.
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He earned his undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from Amherst College, USA, in 2006.
Pursuing language and regional expertise, he studied Arabic at the University of Damascus before heading to the University of Cambridge, where he earned both an MPhil and a PhD in History. His doctoral dissertation, supervised by Professor Sir Christopher Bayly and Professor Javed Majeed, examined 'Rhetorics and Spaces of Belonging among North Indian Muslims, 1850–1950.' His academic work has been widely recognized and published in journals and scholarly books focused on
and Shi'a networks.
Public intellectual and political commentator
Fluent in Urdu, Arabic, Persian, French, Hindi, and English, Mahmudabad is also a prolific writer. He contributes a fortnightly column to The Inquilab and writes regularly for publications including
The Guardian, The Straits Times, and HuffPost
. His scholarly writings appear in edited volumes like The Shi'a in Modern South Asia and Lucknow: A City Between Cultures.
His book,
, explores Muslim conceptions of homeland and identity in pre- and post-colonial India. As a translator, he has rendered Urdu literary works into English, most notably
Break of Dawn by Khan Mahboob Tarzi
.
Among his notable literary contributions, Ali Khan Mahmudabad translated
Break of Dawn
, the English version of
Aghaaz-e-Sahr by Khan Mahboob Tarzi
, bringing a classic piece of Urdu fiction to a wider audience.
A royal lineage and political legacy
Born on December 2, 1982, in Mahmudabad, Uttar Pradesh, Ali Khan Mahmudabad hails from a family deeply entrenched in the political history of the subcontinent. He is the grandson of Mohammad Amir Ahmad Khan, the last ruling Raja of Mahmudabad and a significant financier of the Muslim League during India's partition. His father, Sulaiman Khan, holds the titular title of Raja of Mahmudabad, while his mother, Rani Vijay, is the daughter of the distinguished diplomat Jagat Singh Mehta.
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Hindustan Times
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The Hindu
26 minutes ago
- The Hindu
From silver screen to Parliament: journey of Tamil actors to Rajya Sabha
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Jayalalithaa Two years after stepping away from cinema and entering politics, Jayalalithaa — who had starred opposite M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) in 28 films — was fielded by the AIADMK in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections of March 1984. At the time, she was serving as the party's propaganda secretary. Her nomination was formally proposed by K. Rajaram, the then Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, while Chief Minister M.G.R. himself backed the candidature of Valampuri John. In a striking coincidence, Jayalalithaa was allotted seat number 185 in the Rajya Sabha — the same seat once held by former Chief Minister and DMK founder C.N. Annadurai, a renowned screenwriter, in 1963. 'Jayalalithaa stole the scene wherever she was. Her maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha was widely acclaimed for its clarity of diction and elegant prose. Khushwant Singh, a fellow member, gushed that here was a beauty with brains. 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In 1991, she united the party, led it to a sweeping electoral victory, and became the youngest Chief Minister of the State. Jayalalithaa remained a dominant force in Tamil Nadu politics until her death in office in December 2016. Vyjayantimala Bali Vyjayanthimala Bali, the earliest Tamil film heroine to make a successful foray into Hindi cinema (1955) was also an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and a prominent political figure. A member of the Congress, she was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Madras South constituency in 1984 and 1989. In August 1993, Vyjayanthimala was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, following in the footsteps of her contemporary Sivaji Ganesan. However, her tenure in the Upper House was not without frustrations. In 1994, she raised a grievance regarding her exclusion from the official list of Members of Parliament eligible to implement the Prime Minister's Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme. In a telegram addressed to Rameshwar Thakur, then Union Minister of State for Rural Development, she wrote: 'Already seven months have passed. I am disillusioned at the indifferent attitude of your department. The purpose of the Prime Minister's scheme is nearing failure. Immediate action is necessary to include my name in the Tamil Nadu list and release the funds for implementation.' Disillusionment with the Congress eventually led her to part ways with the party. In 1999, she joined the BJP. Cho S. Ramaswamy Cho S. Ramaswamy — acclaimed Tamil film comedian, satirist, journalist, and political commentator — entered the Rajya Sabha in December 1999 as a nominated member. Though not affiliated with any political party, Cho was widely known for his alignment with right-wing politics and for his sharp, independent voice in public discourse. Joining him in the Upper House at the time was another iconic figure from the world of films — legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar. As a nominated member, Cho remained true to his forthright style and was unafraid to challenge dominant narratives. In 2003, he expressed frustration over being denied the opportunity to speak during a Rajya Sabha resolution that deplored the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Writing in The Hindu in April that year in an article titled 'Resolution Lacks Moral Authority,' he recalled: 'I was one of the members listed to speak on the resolution. The Chairman decided that from among the nominated members, only one would speak, and that was not me. When I pleaded that since mine might perhaps be the only voice against the resolution, I should be given an opportunity to express my views, I was told that opposing the resolution would be an insult to the Chair, since the resolution was in the name of the Chairman.' Cho passed away in December 2016. S.S. Chandran Two years after Cho S. Ramaswamy entered the Rajya Sabha, another comedian from Tamil cinema, S.S. Chandran, followed — but through a different route. Unlike Cho, Chandran was openly political. His career saw him move across party lines — from the DMK to Vaiko's MDMK, before finally settling in the AIADMK. Ironically, it was Chandran's sharp criticism of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, whom he had once admired, that paved his way to the Upper House. In June 2001, when the Jayalalithaa government came under heavy fire for the controversial midnight arrest of Karunanidhi at his Oliver Road residence, Chandran emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of the Chief Minister's actions. His blunt and unwavering support did not go unnoticed. The following month, when biennial Rajya Sabha elections were announced, Jayalalithaa sprang a surprise by nominating Chandran as one of the AIADMK candidates. In an interview with The Hindu, Chandran remarked, 'As a comedian, I can make the Parliament laugh with my jokes and make my point heard with due attention. In this, my role model is Piloo Mody, who was one of the best speakers in Parliament.' Chandran passed away in October 2010. R. Sarath Kumar Tamil film star R. Sarath Kumar, known for his transformation from screen villain to hero, entered the Rajya Sabha in 2001, the same year as comedian S.S. Chandran. His nomination by the DMK came as a surprise — even to the actor himself. Just hours after Jayalalithaa announced her party's Rajya Sabha candidates, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi unveiled Sarath Kumar's name, catching political observers and the actor off guard. At the time, Sarath Kumar was busy shooting for the film Samudram at A.V.M. Studios. Having joined the DMK in 1998, Sarath Kumar had previously contested the Lok Sabha elections from Tirunelveli but lost. Still, his active involvement in the South Indian Film Artistes' Association, where he served as secretary, helped him gain political visibility. Reflecting on his nomination, he said: 'I strongly feel that my outspokenness, sincerity, and the boldness with which I approach a subject made Mr. Karunanidhi feel that I am the best choice for the MP's post.' He added that he intended to speak in Parliament about the controversial arrests of M. Karunanidhi and two Union Ministers on June 30, 2001. 'If an opportunity comes, my maiden speech in Parliament could be about the imposition of Article 356 (President's Rule) in Tamil Nadu,' he said. However, Sarath Kumar's political affiliations shifted over time. In 2006, he quit the DMK, later had a brief association with the AIADMK, and eventually launched his own party — the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi. In 2024, he merged his outfit with the BJP. (Note: Another prominent Tamil film personality from outside the acting world to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha is music maestro Ilaiyaraaja in 2022.)


Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
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