Renowned sociologist, author and former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Imtiaz Ahmad passed away on Monday.
The 83-year-old professor was under treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Ahmad worked extensively in social anthropology and taught Sociology, Political Science and Islamic Studies in various universities in India and abroad.
He is also known for his works on caste in Islam. Caste and Social Stratification among Muslims in India, published in 1973, is considered as his one of the best works.
Ahmad completed his graduation and post graduation from Lucknow University. He completed his research from University of Delhi and University of Chicago.
He also worked as a Senior Research Analyst with the UNESCO Research Centre and lecturer in the Sociology Department of Delhi College under Delhi University. Later, he joined as professor of Political Sociology at the JNU.
Ahmad was a visiting professor at University of Missouri, USA, Institute of Higher Studies, Paris, Institute of Refugee Studies, York University, Canada, University of Sherbrooke, Canada and International University of People’s Initiatives in Peace, Roverato, Italy.
Ahmad was awarded the Pandit Jagpal Krishna Gold Medal from Lucknow University in 1960 for his outstanding academic achievements. He was also a Fulbright Fellow at the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago in the United States between 1967 and 1968. In addition, he was a Fellow at the South Asia Centre at the University of Chicago and a Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Social Sciences in New Delhi.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of Prof. Imtiaz Ahmad, an esteemed sociologist whose academic pursuits opened our eyes to several important social issues. A fearless critic of religious fundamentalism and communalism, he remains a true inspiration to the academic community worldwide,” wrote senior CPIM leader and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
“Prof. Imtiaz Ahmad, doyen of socio-political studies, a most gentle and down-to-earth man, breathed his last today. May his soul rest in peace,” read a tweet by Muslim scholar Zafarul Islam Khan.
“You shall live through your work which always stressed the composite culture of India,” tweeted RJD Manoj Kumar Jha.
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