Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi

Also known as “Salar-e-Millat”, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi has been a prominent regional Muslim leader. Born in Hyderabad, he was the son of Abdul Wahed Owaisi, himself a lawyer, former member of the Razakars (a Muslim paramilitary organization defending the Nizam of Hyderabad) and head of the Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (MIM), a Muslim political party based in Hyderabad. After his father’s death in 1976, Salahuddin took over as the organization’s leader. Often deemed as communal, Owaisi was a firebrand speaker and fierce defender of the Muslim cause in Andhra Pradesh’s legislative assembly and later on in the Lok Sabha, where he held a seat for twenty years. In addition to his political involvement, he established many educational institutions and training institutes, as well as Urdu newspapers. He obviously exercised considerable influence over Hyderabad’s Muslim vote. Salahuddin’s sons are also active in the MIM, and are trying their best to modernize the party’s image and conduct. The elder son, Asaduddin, has succeeded his father and represents the MIM in the Lok Sabha. He is also a member of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

WRIGHT, Theodore P. Jr. 1963. “Revival of the Majlis-Ittihad-ul-Muslimin of Hyderabad.” The Muslim World 53 (July 1963): 234–43.