Former president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) and general secretary of the Movement for Empowerment of Indian Muslims (MOEMIM), Navaid Hamid, honoured with the Qaide Millat Award.
The award was presented by former Madras High Court judge, Justice KN Basha at an event held at a grand ceremony at the Music Academy on Saturday.
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Renowned human rights activist John Dayal, and founder of the Sadbhavana Mission, distinguished scientist Professor Vipin Kumar Tripathi, were also honoured by the southern Indian institution, Qaide Millat Educational and Social Trust (Chennai).
The annual award is given for probity in political/public life and consists of a certificate of appreciation, a cash prize of five lakh rupees, and shawl.
Congratulating the awardees on the occasion, Justice Basha said he felt honoured and privileged to present the awards to individuals who serve as beacons of light amidst the darkness of the current environment while M G Dawood Miyakhan, general Secretary of the trust, said “the awardees are based on their unblemished track record of integrity in political and personal life in India”.
Retired CSI Bishop Dr V Devasagayam said while facilitating the awardees “we are here to recognise your services, support your initiatives and to wish that you continue your fight in spite of all the odds”.
The event was presided over by the president of the Qaide Millat Trust, Qazi Dr Salahuddin Muhammad Ayub, while announcement the awards and introduction of awardees were made by the Trust’s general secretary.
On this occasion, Dr S Sadiq, former Vice-Chancellor of Madras University, and retired CSI Bishop Dr V Devasagayam, were also honoured. General Secretary Dawood Miyan Khan, Treasurer S Mushtaq Ahmed, and Principal of Qaide Millat College, Dr MA Thawab, presented certificates of honour, prize, and shawls to the dignitaries.
The announcement of the 2024 Qaide Millat Award was made in February 2025. The award jury comprised Dr Vasanti Devi (former Vice-Chancellor), Dr V Devasagayam (former Bishop), Paneerselvam (Readers’ Editor, The Hindu), and Dawood Miyan Khan (general secretary, QEST).
Born on June 23, 1963, in the walled city of Delhi, Navaid Hamid has been associated with the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat since the late 1980s. He served as its President from 2016 to 2023. A graduate in English from Zakir Hussain College, University of Delhi, Navaid Hamid has been actively involved in political and social work since his student days at the university.
During the UPA Government (2004–2014), he was appointed as a member of the National Integration Council for two terms. He is the founding secretary of the South Asian Council for Minorities (SACM) and also serves as the national general secretary of the Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians (MOEMIN). He has worked actively to support and uplift marginalized communities.
In 2008, at the Global Minorities Meet held in New Delhi and attended by delegates from 18 countries, Navaid Hamid was elected General Secretary of the Global Minorities Forum for Justice and Peace.
Previously, the Trust has presented the Qaide Millat Award to eminent personalities, including Teesta Setalvad and Nilakanoo (2015), N. Shankariah and Syed Shahabuddin (2016), Manik Sarkar and Muhammad Ismail (2017), Vice President of India Dr. Hamid Ansari and Aruna Roy (2018), AG Noorani and Thiru V mavalavan (2019), Harsh Mander and Bilkis Bano (2020), Dr Irfan Habib and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (2021), Thiru Veeramani and The Wire news (2022), N Ram (The Hindu) and Dr Abu Saleh Sharif.
The Qaide Millat award is presented in memory of Qaide Millat Maulvi Muhammad Ismail, a selfless servant of the community, freedom fighter, and a distinguished national leader. His significant contributions to the development of the country and community after independence are widely acknowledged.
As a member of the Constituent Assembly, a Member of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and as the founder-leader of the Indian Union Muslim League, his services are considered unforgettable. He was also among the founding members of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM).
The Qaide Millat Trust instituted this award on the 40th death anniversary of Maulvi Muhammad Ismail, and it is awarded annually to distinguished individuals active in public life.
