In the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh lies Amroha, an ancient small town famous as the land of cultural diversity and wisdom. Born into one of Amroha’s prominent families was Ovais Sultan Khan, now a 26-year-old thinker and human rights activist and the youngest member in the family of Rights Livelihood Laureates, popularly known as Alternative Nobel Prize as Lokayan representative which has received this honour in 1985.
“As a child my personality was moulded in the rich social milieu of Amroha’s high plural culture and imbibing moral rectitude from parents. My parents laid down the foundation of human and social sensitivity, and a sense of empathy towards the oppressed and dignity for all,” says Ovais.
Ovais’s maternal grandfather, late Syed Ahsan Ahmed Naqvi, a social reformer, trade unionist, and historian was largely responsible for his social, political, spiritual and religious growth. It was under his influence that he got information about many philosophers, activists and events of the past. His evenings were devoted to intense discussions on social reform movements, plight of oppressed in the world, particularly Muslims in India and the ways forward.
“As a child I also happened to be part of many of these intellectual sessions and probably it was because of that ‘company’ that at a very early age, my interest and understanding of social and political issues and concerns developed. I always believe in standing with the oppressed to resist the oppressors,” says Ovais.
What followed was a life dedicated to driving out injustice and oppression. During his primary schooling, Ovais gave his first symbolic arrest along with his father and more than five thousand individuals before Police during a protest against sealing drive of small-scale industries by first NDA Government. Later, in senior secondary schooling, Ovais led a delegation of youth and met the President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and gave a memorandum regarding a misinformation of death figures during a protest.
The most prominent initiative of his however, was during the Muzaffarnagar-Shamli anti-Muslim riots in September 2013. Ovais was the member of the first delegation visited the affected area. He facilitated and organised the small solidarity visits of non-Muslims in the violence affected areas to meet traumatised victims. Ovais is also the co-founder of the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism, to fight the growing fascist tendencies.
Ovais has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Social Work from University of Delhi. He also studied International Human Rights, Humanitarian and Refugee Laws from Indian Academy of International Law and Diplomacy. After completing post-graduation degree in May 2012, Ovais joined ‘South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED)’ as Programme Secretary, at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), a world renowned think tank based in Delhi. SADED is the latest incarnation of the Lokayan, the first Indian recipient of the renowned Right Livelihood Award (popularly known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’) in 1985. In March 2015, Ovais got the opportunity to represent the Lokayan, thus making him the youngest member in the global laureates’ family of Alternative Nobel Prize.
Ovais has now resigned from SADED-CSDS and decided to devote his time to activism, while doing part-time consultancy assignments in development sector to earn his livelihood. He is serving different organisations in honorary capacity. He is core group member of Vikalp Sangam (Alternative Confluence) which is a platform for networking of groups and individuals working on alternatives to the currently dominant model of development and governance, in various spheres of life.
Ovais has just one dream. “I want to see India as a nation where people believe in differences and in living with others in peace; where people will not be victimised and deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms due to his/her identity; where dignity of each individuals will be celebrated, where everyone has access to justice; where there's no hate for Muslims, Christians, Dalits or the poor,” he says, and adds, “We are under the trap of oppressive majoritarian ideas. We are facing the great threat of fascism in India. We have to take position to defend the constitution for protecting the future of India. Otherwise, we will lose everything.”
His advise to students? “I urge students to be attain knowledge about what’s happening. They should identify and question whatever instigates hate and violence in society,” Ovais concludes.
Reach out: @OvaisSultanKhan