Our guiding light
Born during the tumultuous period leading to lndia's independence, Bashiruddin Babukhan has left a unique imprint of charity, excellence and entrepreneurship on Southern lndia. ln a life spanning 73 years, the impact of his work in education, philanthropy, architecture, business, and politics continues to resonate in every facet of life in the city of Hyderabad, State of Telangana, the then AP.
Bashir's early life was marred by setbacks that led to him developing a worldview that embraced empathy, persistence, and discipline. After working in India and the Middle East, he launched successful ventures in the 1970s, rebuilding his family's footprint in education, real estate, and infrastructure.
While he excelled in business, Bashir's most significant contributions were in charity and advocacy for India's underserved minorities. In 1991, he co-founded the Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust (HZCT) and the Foundation for Economic and Educational Development (FEED) along with his brother Ghiasuddin Babukhan. The brothers would continue to work together on their philanthropic endeavours till Bashir's passing in 2008.
FEED's impact was substantial, with a presence in 20,000 villages across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It provided scholarships for over 200,000 high-potential students and established 109 schools offering free or subsidized education. The organization also created skill development centers that economically empowered thousands of women.
Bashir's greatest work lay in improving the representation of minorities in government. In 1985, he entered politics and in a career spanning nearly 20 years he served as Minister of Industrial Development, Minister of Education, and Minister of Tourism.
Bashir worked pointedly and tirelessly towards increasing minority involvement at all levels of government. His efforts were rewarded when the Government he served under created the first Department of Minority Welfare in the country of lndia. Bashir deeply believed that an equitable society could be established only by social change and economic upliftment of minority communities and was instrumental in passing legislation and creating programs to this end. This example has been taken up by multiple states in India and now, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Christian and Zoroastrian religious minorities across India have a dedicated government function working towards their upliftment. The impact of his work grew exponentially with the creation of the Central Ministry of Minority Affairs, in 2006.
Bashiruddin Babukhan's legacy continues through the Human Development Trust, founded by his son Salman Babukhan, and daughter in law Anjum Babukhan, which aims to further empower underserved minorities and build a just, equitable, modern, and educated nation.
