This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) in New Delhi, a milestone for any institution. The driving force behind it was Dr Manzoor Alam, who set out to build an organisation capable of bringing together academia, intellectuals, and religious leaders. It was a rare undertaking, particularly for someone who chose to remain in India rather than pursue lucrative opportunities abroad.
Dr Manzoor Alam passed away on January 13, 2026, in Delhi. For those of us who admired him, it is a tremendous loss. He was 80, and many of us hoped he would recover so we could continue conversations and debates that animated his life’s work. But none can alter what nature chooses; he died early that morning, around 5.30.
Dr Alam was extraordinarily polite in conversation, and it was unusual to see him lose his temper with colleagues or adversaries. Critics among liberals sometimes dismissed him as conservative, but he was clear about the needs of his community. Muslims, he insisted, required intellectual and spiritual guidance—but also alliances with Hindus and other communities. He believed the community’s political struggles had to be waged collectively, not in isolation. His outreach was not to secular-liberal circles alone; he invited Hindu faith leaders to share platforms, arguing that mutual respect could be nurtured without abandoning one’s own values or identity. I often disagreed with his approach, but today I realise how strategic and farsighted it was.
My association with Dr Alam began in the early 1990s, introduced by V.T. Rajshekhar. As a young idealist, I found in him a mentor who trusted me, heard me, and encouraged others to listen as well. My first major work, Press and Prejudice: An Insightful Study of Hindi Media, published in 2003 after years of effort beginning in 1998, was made possible through his belief in my ability. That recognition mattered immensely at a time when I was still struggling to be heard.
My second book with IOS, Rise and Role of the Marginalised Communities in India’s Freedom Movement, published in 2018, attempted to reclaim histories neglected by mainstream writing. It gave me immense satisfaction to see passages from it quoted by Dr K Veeramani at a programme honouring me in Chennai.
Dr Alam was equally enthusiastic about my current work on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, writing a generous introduction. Unfortunately, delays—including his failing health—held up the publication.
In more than three decades in Delhi, I have encountered many intellectuals, activists, and academics. Few combined humility with seriousness of purpose. Dr Alam always respected the work of younger scholars, even when others were hesitant to do so. He insisted that newer voices also deserved space, and ensured they received it.
Despite his achievements, Dr Alam rarely spoke about himself. His biography, written by journalist A.U. Asif and released in October last year, brought together several of his colleagues and admirers. Though visibly unwell, he remained engaged throughout. That turned out to be his final public appearance.
Dr Manzoor Alam’s death is a blow to all who envision an inclusive India—one in which Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and others coexist in harmony, strengthening rather than weakening one another. Fortunately, IOS remains institutionally strong, supported by colleagues committed to continuing his mission.
His legacy is reflected in the institution’s work: research, publications, and an unmatched record of seminars and conferences. Few organisations have brought together such diverse participants—jurists, political leaders, academics, journalists, activists, and religious figures—on a single platform. His influence was recognised across political lines, from former prime ministers V.P. Singh, H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral to Dr Manmohan Singh.
IOS’s publications, ranging across disciplines and themes, are an impressive body of work—often scholarly and rigorous rather than rhetorical. Justice Rajinder Sachar frequently sought Dr Alam’s counsel when chairing the commission that produced the Sachar Report. Justice Sachar, Kuldeep Nayar, and former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi all valued his contributions. Eminent figures such as Justice V.M. Tarkunde, Rajni Kothari, Iqbal Ansari and Tahir Mehmood participated in IOS initiatives in its early years, helping cement its standing.
Dr Alam’s work extended well beyond IOS. He helped establish and strengthen several organisations, both national and international, and played an important role in the All India Milli Council. His strength lay in connecting scholars, leaders and communities—an increasingly rare ability—and building networks sustained not by power, but by trust.
Perhaps he might have established even more institutions had health and resources allowed, but the foundations he laid remain robust. One hopes IOS will carry forward his vision with conviction and clarity.
My humble tribute to Dr Manzoor Alam. He believed in institutions, in intellectual clarity, and in the idea of a plural, democratic India where citizens live with dignity without surrendering their identities.
A salute to Dr Manzoor Alam and the legacy he leaves behind.
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*Human rights defender
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