|
Malegaon:
Dr. Omar Khalidi, a great scholar and the man, who articulated the
voice of the Indian Muslims during some of their darkest hours,
died in an accident November 29.
He died at 11:15 AM, November 29, in
Boston at the age of 57.
Dr. Khalidi had worked at
Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) there for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Nigar Khalidi, and daughter, Aliya,
but hundreds of thousands of admirers at home and abroad also
mourn his passing.
Family sources informed from Boston
that Dr Khalidi was driving in his car to MIT and was probably
trying to catch a train to buy medicine at the next station when
he was hit by a train.
"He was a diabetic, and it seems his
sugar level had reached abnormal levels", sources said.
His family did not know about the
doctor’s death until after 7 p.m.
“When he did not reach home, we
called up police, and that is when we heard the bad news,” the
family said.
Dr. Khalidi was a prolific writer
and a champion of human rights for minorities. He authored several
books on Indian Muslims including historic and pathbreaking book
'KHAKI AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN INDIA: Armed Forces, Police and
Paramilitary During Communal Riots.'
He was known for his commitment to
the cause of justice and fairness for Indian Muslims.
He was born in Hyderabad and was the
son of Professor Abu Nasr Khalidi, a well known scholar of Arabic
and Islamic studies.
He had also served in the past as the regional vice president of
AFMI.
Before his sudden death he was
working at MIT.
Meanwhile, condolence messages are
pouring in from different circles. The American Federation of
Muslims of Indian origin (AFMI) in its condolence message
expressed its deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Omar
Khalidi who passed away in an car accident in Boston on November
29. He survived by his wife and a daughter.
|
Comment on this article
|
Quick links