Quaide Milleth Award 2024 honours John Dayal, Navaid Hamid, Vipin Tripathi
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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 recognized for their contributions to civil liberties, religious freedom, and social justice.
John Dayal, a prominent human rights advocate and founder of the All India Christian Council, has been a strong voice for religious freedom and was previously a member of the National Integration Council. Navaid Hamid, former president of the All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat, has dedicated his efforts to the rights of marginalized communities, particularly Muslims. He is also 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, promoting peace and communal harmony.
The selection committee for the award 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.
Established in 2015 to mark QUEST’s 40th anniversary, the award honors individuals who uphold constitutional values, secularism, pluralism, and the welfare of marginalized communities. Named after Quaide Milleth Mohamed Ismail Sahib, a leader in India’s independence movement known for his commitment to communal harmony, the award has previously recognized figures such as Teesta Setalvad, Hamid Ansari, Harsh Mander, Aruna Roy, A.G. Noorani, and N. Ram. In 2022, it was presented to *The Wire* for its contributions to fearless journalism and the defense of free speech.
QUEST, founded in 1974 in memory of Mohamed Ismail Sahib, continues its mission of educational and social empowerment for underprivileged communities.