Tag Archives: Gujarati Muslims in Politics

Ahmed Bhai, a friend and one of the few political leaders who inspired respect

August 19, 2025Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAhmed Bhai, Ahmed Bhai Patel, Ahmed Patel, Ahmed Patel - Congress Leader, Gujarat Muslim Leaders in Congress, Gujarati Muslims, Gujarati Muslims in Politics, Indian Muslims, Muslim Leaders of Gujarat, Muslims of Gujarat, Muslims of India, Muslims of India - Positive News, Nai Duniya Weekly, Positive News of Indian Muslims, Positive News of Muslims of India, Positive News of the Muslims of Gujarat, Positive Stories of Indian Muslims, Positive Stories of Muslims of India, Shahid Siddiqui, Shahid Siddiqui - Journalist, Shahid Siddiqui - Rajya Sabha Membermpositiveone@gmail.com

GUJARAT / NEW DELHI :

Obituary

A man of few words, he would listen more and speak less. He was not known for dropping names, loose talk or gossip. No wonder he had friends across the political spectrum, recalls Shahid Siddiqui.

I met Ahmed Patel in 1980 for the first time as a journalist.

He mostly preferred to remain away from lime light but I persuaded him to give an interview to my weekly Nai Duniya. Even then I was impressed by his very precise responses to the most provocative questions. I came to know him in last thirty-five years both as a politician and friend. What held him above other politicians in Delhi was his honesty and dedication not only to the Congress Party but to basic moral values of public life. While many leaders protected their personal interests at the cost of the party, Ahmed Bhai did everything rising above his own political and personal interests.

Ahmed Patel was one of the finest Congressman in modern times, especially after the demise of the generation of leaders groomed by Indira Gandhi. Congress was in shambles in the post-Narsimha Rao period and with the emergence of NDA, future seemed to be bleak for Congress. It was pragmatic, realistic, dedicated hard work of Ahmed Patel and few others, which allowed UPA, led by Indian National Congress to form a government in Delhi in 2004. His networking abilities, his humble demeanor, his ability to listen to everyone and then give a sane and practical advice to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was what kept UPA together and allowed it to come back to power with larger numbers in 2009.

There came many occasions when this twenty-four or more parties’ ragtag alliance would have collapsed, but for the persuasive abilities of Ahmed Bhai. Political analysts call him troubleshooter for Sonia Gandhi, in my view he was Sankat Mochak and firefighter for the Congress Party.

On 7th December 1992, a day after the demolition of Babri Masjid, I sent my resignation from the Congress Party. I was an AICC member and part of a Committee with Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Manmohan Singh ji, K. R. Narayanan Saheb, called, ‘Pamphlet Committee’. Ahmed Bhai immediately rushed to my house and said if you resign I will also resign, and if we Muslims resign from Congress in large numbers, would we be helping the cause of Secularism or damaging it? Ultimately a call from Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who in a way was my political Guru, persuaded me to withdraw my resignation. Much later I learned that Ahmed Bhai had requested Comrade Surjeet to call me and desist from resigning from the Congress Party.

Ahmed Bhai was famous for his nighttime politics when he would call friends and opponents for advice and information. He was fond of good food and would suddenly ring me up at night saying, ‘Yaar can I come to have a few kebabs at your house’. He used to come alone without fanfare at midnight and chat. He was a political animal, who breathed Congress politics twenty-four-seven, but never tried to harm even his worst opponents.

Ahmed Bhai was ears and eyes to Sonia Ji in the most crucial days of her Presidentship. Her ability to take everyone along and keep the party together made Congress a force again, but no less was the contribution of Ahmed Bhai, who didn’t hesitate in sacrificing even his close friends if the party’s interest demanded it and advised Sonia Ji accordingly. He was one Congressman who had hundreds of critics and opponents but no enemies. Even most bitter enemies of the Congress Party could speak to Ahmed Bhai in confidence, knowing that their faith will never be betrayed.

Congress has no replacement for Ahmed Patel, at a juncture when he is required most. His contribution to Indian democracy and Secularism is immense. At a time when politicians of all hues and parties are losing respect in the eyes of the common man, Ahmed Patel will be missed much more for his cool, unemotional, positive attitude.

source: http://www.nationalheraldindia.com / National Herald / Home> States360 > Obituary / by Shahid Siddiqui / November 25th, 2020

25-year-old PIO is UK’s youngest civic mayor

August 4, 2022Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World OpinionBritish Muslims of Gujarat - Indian Origin, British Muslims of Indian Origin, Gujarati Muslims in Politics, Gujarati Muslims in the UK, Humaira Garasia, Humaira Garasia - Indian Origin Muslim Gujarati in UK, Humaira Garasia - Labor Councillor for Haggeston London, Humaira Garasia - PIO, Humaira Garasia - Speaker for London Borough of Hackney, Indian Muslim in British Politics, Indian Muslim Women, Indian Muslim Women in Politics, Indian Muslims in Arts and Crafts, Indian Muslims in Britain, Indian Muslims in Politics, Indian Muslims in the UK, Indian Muslims Overseas, Muslim Women of Gujarat, Muslim Women of India, Muslims of Bharuch - Gujarat, Muslims of Gujarat, Muslims of India, Muslims of India - Positive News, Muslims of India in Politics, Muslims of Valsad - Gujarat, Najma Rafik - Bharuch - Gujarat, Positive News of Muslims of Gujarat, Positive Stories of Indian Muslim Women, Positive Stories of Muslim of India, Rafik Ahmed, Rafik Ahmed - Valsad - Gujaratmpositiveone@gmail.com

Valsad, GUJARAT / London, U.K :

banner img — Humaira Garasia, whose family roots are in Valsad, was .elected speaker of London borough of Hackney in May

Surat :

Rishi Sunak might be in news for being the frontrunner for the post of Prime Minister of the UK and he will create history if he is elected for the post of the country that once ruled India.

But Indian origin Humaira Garasia (25) has already created a history by becoming the youngest-ever speaker of council in London Borough of Hackney.

Garasia’s family is originally from Valsad and her father had migrated to the UK at a young age. Garasia was determined to enter active politics when she was 15 and wanted to represent the marginalised population.

She identifies herself as a Gujarati of Indian origin. She studied BA politics from the University of London. Her father Rafik Ahmed, a warehouse worker, is from Nana Taiwad in Valsad while her mother Najma, a housewife, is from Bharuch.

“I am the youngest-ever speaker/civic mayor of Indian origin in the whole of the UK and the youngest speaker to have ever been elected for the London Borough of Hackney,” says Garasia.

“I was elected at the age of 21 as a councillor in 2018 and completed a four-year term. I was the youngest person of Indian origin to be elected as a councillor then. I was successfully re-elected as a councillor in May 2022,” she added.

She said: “I will be working with leaders, residents and communities from across the borough to address issues of inequalities, while also helping to tackle long-term issues such as racism and discrimination. I will focus on providing support to the most vulnerable members of society and helping young people to feel both empowered and safe.”