Vice President Ansari condoles demise of Asghar Ali Engineer

Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has deeply condoled the passing away of renowned scholar and social activist Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer.

"I am deeply saddened at the passing away of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, the renowned scholar and social activist. In his lifetime, through outstanding scholarship and activism, Dr. Engineer championed the cause of peace, non-violence and communal harmony. His valuable contribution towards promoting secularism and interfaith harmony are particularly noteworthy," said Vice President Ansari in his condolence message.

"His liberal, rational views, based on his deep understanding of Islam and Islamic jurisprudence, are most pertinent in our times. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family. I pray to the Almighty to give them strength and fortitude to withstand this loss," he added.

Engineer, 74, who was an Indian reformist-writer and activist, passed away in Mumbai today.

Internationally known for his work on liberation theology in Islam, he led the Progressive Dawoodi Bohra movement. The focus of his work was on (and action against) communalism and communal and ethnic violence in India and South Asia. He was an advocate of a culture of peace, non-violence and communal harmony, and lectured all over the world.

Engineer also served as head of the Institute of Islamic Studies and the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, both of which he founded in 1980 and 1993 respectively.

He also made contributions to The God Contention, a web site comparing and contrasting various worldviews. His autobiography A Living Faith: My Quest for Peace, Harmony and Social Change was released in New Delhi on July 20, 2011 by Vice President Ansari.