Zahoor Qasim

Syed Zahoor Qasim
Born	31 December 1926 (1926-12-31) (age 84) Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Residence	Delhi, India
Nationality	India
Fields	Marine biology
Alma mater	Majidiya Islamiya Intermediate College Allahabad Aligarh Muslim University University College of North Wales

Padma Bhushan Syed Zahoor Qasim (born December 31, 1926 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India) is a leading Indian marine biologist. Qasim helped lead India's exploration to Antarctica and guided the other seven expeditions from 1981 to 1988.^[1] He was a Member of the Planning Commission of India from 1991 to 1996. Qasim is an Honorary Professor of many universities, including Aligarh Muslim University, Madurai Kamraj University, Anna Malai University, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and Jamia Millia Islamia.

Early life

Qasim began his schooling from Majidiya Islamiya Intermediate College Allahabad, and then moved to Aligarh Muslim University, where he obtained a B.Sc. degree in 1949 and a M.Sc. degree in Zoology in 1951. He stood first in the order of Merit for which he was awarded the University Gold Medal. For several years, he was a lecturer in the Department of Zoology at Aligarh before proceeding to the United Kingdom for higher studies in 1953. In 1956 he completed his D.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from University College of North Wales.

Career

• 1951-53: Lecturer, Department of Zoology, AMU Aligarh
• 1957: Reader, Department of Zoology, AMU Aligarh
• 1962-64: Professor, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Bombay
• 1964:Assistant Director, The Directorate of International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
• 1970-73:Director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute at Cochin
• 1974: Director, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa
• 1976: Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore
• 1977: Fellow of Indian National Science Academy New Delhi, Fellow of Indian National Science Academy Bangalore
• 1976-80: Chairman of Working Committee of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
• 1981: Secretary, Department of Environment (DOE), Government of India
• 1981: Leader of India's First Expedition to the Antarctica.^[2]
• 1982: Founding Secretary, Department of Ocean Development
• 1989-91: Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Chairman, Society for Indian Ocean Studies. Chairman, World Environment Foundation.
• 1991-96: Member, Planning Commission of India
• 1995 : Member, Dr. D. Swaminadhan Research Foundation (DSRF)
• 2003 : Fellow, Third World Academy of Sciences. Honorary Fellow, Muslim Association for the Advancement of Science, Aligarh. Honorary Member, Asian Fisheries Society.

Honors

• 1974: Padma Shri^[1]
• 1975: Chandra Hora Memorial Medal
• 1975: Golden Jubilee Trust Gold Medal
• 1982: Padma Bhushan
• F.I.E. Award

Books Authored

• The Indian Ocean: Images and Realities
• Indian Estuaries
• Biodiversity of Mangrove Ecosystems
• Living Resources of India's Exclusive Economic Zone
• Glimpses of the Indian Ocean
• India's Exclusive Economic Zone: Resources, Exploitation, Management

Family

His father's name is Mr Syed Zamir Qasim. His wife is Nawabzadi Begum Sahiba of Rampur, from the royal family of Nawabs of Rampur. They are blessed with three daughters. He lives in Delhi.

Reference

1. ^ ^{a b} KAUR, NAVNEET (May 17, 1999). "An ocean of experience and the will to be a pioneer" (in English). NEW DELHI: Indian Express. http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990517/ige17156p.html. Retrieved 8 December 2010. 
2. ^ "AMU announces Sir Syed International award" (in English). Times of India. Oct 10, 2009. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AMU-announces-Sir-Syed-International-award/articleshow/5110332.cms. Retrieved 8 December 2010. 

Persondata
Name	Qasim, Zahoor
Alternative names
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Date of birth	December 31, 1926
Place of birth	Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Date of death
Place of death