Manzoor Alam Quraishi (born 27 July 1917) was a member of the Indian Civil Service from the batch of 1941 and Uttar Pradesh Cadre. His long career in civil service is distinguishable because it was influenced by the Government of India Act 1935 and the Partition of India 1947, and subsequent division within ICS members.

Early life

Manzoor Alam Quraishi was born on 24 July 1917 in Rasra Ballia Uttar Pradesh, India.^[1] He was born to parents (Father Bashir Ahmad, Rasra Ballia district Uttar Pradesh) who belonged to the historic local Sunni Muslim community Iraqi Biradari.^[2] He was educated at Aligarh Muslim University, receiving the degree, respectively, B.A. (Hon) 1936; M.A. 1938.^[3]

Career

He passed the Indian civil service examination that took place in India in 1941. In the same year, he was appointed on probation serving the United Province government as assistant magistrate for a year (and not trained in (London) due to the enactment of Government of India Act 1935.^[1]: 306 After probation he was allowed more time for on-ground administrative experience by serving the United Province Government as Joint Magistrate from 1942 to 1947. From 1947 to 1950, he was District Magistrate in Pauri Garhwal.^[4] By 1946/1947 the decision of the partition of India into two new countries by the British government based on the opinions of the political parties could not spare division within the prestigious ICS. The members of the ICS community were found to be biased toward the political parties. While most of the Muslim ICSs opted for the newly formed Pakistan, MA Quraishi showed courage and, by opting for India, he provided stability to Indian civil service in Uttar Pradesh governed by the Congress Party.^{[5] [6]}

From 1953-1957 he worked with the U.P. Government as the Administrator, Municipal Boards and Improvement Trusts. During the aforementioned time betterment of municipalities and amending the existing ‘THE UTTAR PRADESH MUNICIPALITIES ACT, 1916 took place’. He was the commissioner of Meerut division, the biggest division in Uttar Pradesh responsible for administering law and order from 1957-1964. Since February 1964 he has been Secretary of Agricultural Production and Rural Development, in the Uttar Pradesh Government. In addition, he was Chairman of Agro-Industrial Corporation, U.P.; and a member of the Board of Management, Agricultural University, Pantnagar, and the Committee of Panel of Experts on Agricultural Administration.^[7] He was selected Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1976-1979), Anexo: Embajadores de India en Arabia Saudita; "Anexo: Embajadores de India en Arabia Saudita".. Lastly, from 1979 he served the Ministry of Agriculture or departments under the aforementioned ministry as secretary, Government of India, and the vice-chancellor of Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad.^[8]

Book, a memoir written, and meeting and seminar administered

• Quraishi, Manzoor Alam (23 December 1985). Indian Administration, Pre & Post Independence: Memoirs. B.R. Publishing Corporation. ISBN 9788170181866.
• Manzoor Alam Quraishi (1985). Indian Agriculture and Rural Development: Then and Now. p. 276.
• "Staff View: Seminar on Rural Development for Weaker Sections".
• "Quraishi, M. A. - Webcat".
• "A regional approach to the implementation" (PDF).
• "3R South Asia Expert Workshop" (PDF).
• "The National Consultation on the Development" (PDF).

Death

Quraishi died on 13 February 2000 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

References