Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, a renowned educationist, founder of Al-Ameen Educational Society and Daily Salar newspaper, and former Pro-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, breathed his last in Bengaluru on May 27. He was 86.
Widely referred to as ‘Baba-e-Taalim’, Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan founded Al-Ameen Educational Society in 1966. The Al-Ameen group of Institutions now number more than 200 in Karnataka and all over the country. In Bengaluru, the Al-Ameen institution has various colleges catering to varied streams from pre-university, degree, post-graduation Institute of Management, College of Pharmacy, and Law College to the Al-Ameen College of Education.
Born on 6 September 1935 in Trichy in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Khan did his MBBS at Madras University, Chennai in 1963. After getting married he continued his postgraduate studies, M.S. specialising in surgery at Stanley Medical College, Chennai. He moved to Bengaluru in 1965.
In 1966, at the age of 31, he started Al-Ameen Educational Society, which was a pioneering effort to impart education, especially within the state’s Muslim community.
Dr. Khan was one of the founders, trustees of ‘Salar’, an Urdu daily newspaper from Bengaluru since 1964; he was also Pro-Chancellor/Treasurer of Aligarh Muslim University.
He is a recipient of several awards like Karnataka Rajyothsava award (1990), Kempegowda Award, Junior Jayees Award and Public Relation Society of India Award.
‘Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan Award’ given every year in recognition of exemplary services by members of the community is named after him.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Vice President Prof. Muhammad Saleem Engineer has expressed grief over the demise of Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan.
In a condolence message, Prof. Saleem Engineer who is also Chairman of the JIH Markazi Taleemi Board, said: “Dr Mumtaz Khan’s educational services will be an important chapter in the history of the country. He set up educational institutions at a time when Muslims could not dare to take up such projects. Dr. Mumtaz was not only the founder of an educational institution but he also played a key role in establishing hundreds of other educational institutions across the country. He also encouraged people and shared his experiences with them. Dr. Mumtaz was not just an individual but an educational movement. This movement should not end after his death.”
Prof. Saleem Engineer has prayed to Almighty Allah for granting forgiveness to Dr. Mumtaz, bestowing upon him the highest place in Paradise and giving patience to his bereaved family.
He is survived by his wife, one son, and two daughters.