New Delhi: The Quaide Milleth Educational and Social Trust (QUEST) has announced the recipients of the Quaide Milleth Award for Probity in Political and Public Life for 2024. Human rights activists John Dayal, Navaid Hamid and Vipin Kumar Tripathi have been recognised for their work in civil liberties, religious freedom and social justice.
John Dayal is a human rights and religious freedom advocate, founder of the All India Christian Council, and a former member of the National Integration Council. Navaid Hamid, former president of the All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat, has worked for the rights of marginalised communities, particularly Muslims. He is a member of the National Integration Council and General Secretary of the Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians. Professor Vipin Kumar Tripathi, a former IIT Delhi professor and human rights activist, works with the Sadbhaav Mission, which promotes peace and communal harmony.
The awardees were selected by a committee that included V. Vasanthi Devi, former Vice-Chancellor of M.S. University, Rev. Bishop Devasagayam of the Church of South India (Retd), A.S. Paneerselvan, former Reader’s Editor of the Hindu, and M.G. Dawood Miakhan, General Secretary of QUEST.
Since its inception, the award has recognised individuals and movements that uphold democratic values and human rights. Previous recipients include Teesta Setalvad, Hamid Ansari, Harsh Mander, Aruna Roy, A.G. Noorani and N. Ram. In 2022, the award was presented to The Wire in “recognition of the outstanding contributions to value based and fearless journalism and unstinted struggle for the freedom of speech”.
The award was established in 2015 to mark the 40th anniversary of QUEST. It honours individuals who demonstrate commitment to constitutional values, secularism, pluralism and the welfare of marginalised communities. It is named after Quaide Milleth Mohamed Ismail Sahib, a leader in India’s independence movement known for his advocacy of communal harmony.
QUEST was founded in 1974 in memory of Mohamed Ismail Sahib and works for the educational and social empowerment of underprivileged communities.
