Guess what? Zafar Sareshwala pipped Big B, Gulzar, ex-CJI to become Urdu university VC

One of the most prominent faces of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign team in the run up to the general elections, Zafar Sareshwala, has reportedly managed to beat personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Gulzar and Azim Premji for the post of chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University.

Documents accessed by PTI show that names of six people were considered by the executive council of the University for the post of chancellor as the term of Dr Syeda Hameed, a known academician, came to end on 10 July, 2014.

Sareshwala is a familiar face thanks to his association with Modi’s electoral campaign and frequently appears on news channel debates to defend government policy.

Sareshwala, who owns a Ahmedabad-based business identified as Parsoli Corp and is said to be an expert in Islamic finance, beat others shortlisted by the council.

The list consisted of actor Amitabh Bachchan, poet Gulzar, Wipro chairman Azim Premji, former Chief Justice of India AM Ahmadi and first Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah.

The shortlisted names were sent to the ministry of human resources development by the university on 1 December, 2014, the records accessed under the RTI Act show.

Sareshwala’s appointment as VC had not gone down well with many within the Muslim community.

His rise and the constant criticism he has faced from members of the Muslim community are however, a sharp contrast from his stance after the 2002 communal riots in the case. Sareshwala was reportedly said to be set to take Modi to court, but everything changed after he met the leader in London in 2003.

The Times of India had, in a profile on him, described Sareshwala as, “one of Modi’s trusted backroomboys, he is said to have the Gujarat chief minister on speed dial, predictably earning brickbats for “backstabbing” community members who oppose Modi’s Hindutva ideology. But Sareshwala, whose family hails from Ahmedabad, maintains that engagement with Modi and the BJP is the only way forward for the Muslims of Gujarat.”

Since the Modi government came to power, he’s faced greater hostility.

Earlier this month, the vice chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University pulled out of the “Taleem ki Taqat (Power of Education)” event organised by Sareshwala in poll-bound Bihar because of issues on campus.

The Indian Express had reported , “The VC’s participation in the event raised eyebrows on the campus as it had Union minister Ravishankar Prasad, NCERT director JS Rajput, an academic with RSS leanings, apart from Sareshwala as speakers.”

In March, as PTI had reported , Sareshwala was also forced to leave a All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) meet after some members raised objection to his presence. He later described the board as “an extension of certain political parties”.

Given how it took place, Sareshwala’s appointment could raise eyebrows again. But then the businessman is used to far worse.