Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi

Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi (1930 – 2 October 2022) was an Indian journalist, writer and politician who served as a Member of the Rajya Sabha representing West Bengal from 2008 to 2014. He was the chief editor of the Urdu-language daily Azad Hind, published from Kolkata, for more than six decades.

Born in Malihabad in the Lucknow district of United Provinces, Malihabadi became associated with Urdu journalism from an early age. He worked with Azad Hind, a newspaper founded by his father, Abdul Razzaq Malihabadi, and eventually became its chief editor. He also published books on journalism, politics, travel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Malihabadi was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2008 as an independent candidate from West Bengal and served a six-year term until 2014.

Early life

Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi was born in 1930 at Malihabad in Lucknow district, Uttar Pradesh.

An issue of Azad Hind dated 11 July 1983 is catalogued by the institute with Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi listed as its editor. The record identifies the publication as an Urdu newspaper published in Calcutta.

Contemporary accounts described Malihabadi as a prominent figure in Urdu journalism. A 2001 article in The Milli Gazette described him as a co-editor of Azad Hind and discussed his role in the development of Urdu journalism in Kolkata.

Political career

Rajya Sabha

Malihabadi entered national politics in 2008 when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, from West Bengal as an independent member.

He took oath as a Rajya Sabha member in April 2008 and represented West Bengal until April 2014.

During his parliamentary term, Malihabadi participated in debates and parliamentary proceedings. The official parliamentary record, for example, lists him among the members who participated in the Rajya Sabha debate concerning the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

According to PRS Legislative Research, Malihabadi attended 93% of the Rajya Sabha sittings recorded in its parliamentary dataset, participated in 25 debates and asked 35 questions during his term.

He also wrote extensively about Abul Kalam Azad. His book Azeem Sahafi, Azeem Rahnuma Abul Kalam Azad was published in 2013 by the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, New Delhi. The book contains 212 pages and deals with Azad's career as a journalist and political leader.

Another of his works, Aazad Ne Kaha Tha: Ittihad Aur Azadi, was published in 1997 and deals with Abul Kalam Azad's ideas concerning unity and independence.

Death

Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi died on 2 October 2022 in Malihabad Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Following his death, the Rajya Sabha paid tribute to him during its obituary references on 7 December 2022. The official record described him as a journalist, writer and scholar and noted his service as a member of the House from West Bengal between April 2008 and April 2014.