Arif Mohammad Khan facts for kids
Arif Mohammad Khan (born on November 18, 1951) is an important Indian politician. As of 2025, he is serving as the Governor of Bihar. Before this, he was the Governor of Kerala from 2019 to 2024. He has also been a Union Minister in the Indian government, handling different areas like civil aviation and energy. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Quick facts for kids
Arif Mohammad Khan
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| 30th Governor of Bihar | |
| Assumed office 2 January 2025 |
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| Chief Minister | Nitish Kumar |
| Preceded by | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar |
| 22nd Governor of Kerala | |
| In office 6 September 2019 – 2 January 2025 |
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| Chief Minister | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| Preceded by | P. Sathasivam |
| Succeeded by | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar |
| Union Minister of Civil Aviation | |
| In office 6 December 1989 – 10 November 1990 |
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| Prime Minister | V. P. Singh |
| Preceded by | Shivraj Patil |
| Succeeded by | Harmohan Dhawan |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1980–1984 |
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| Preceded by | Manohar Lal |
| Succeeded by | Naresh Chander Chaturvedi |
| Constituency | Kanpur |
| In office 1984–1991 |
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| Preceded by | Maulana Saiyad Muzaffar Hussain |
| Succeeded by | Rudrasen Chaudhary |
| Constituency | Bahraich |
| In office 1998–1999 |
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| Preceded by | Padamsen Chaudhary |
| Succeeded by | Padamsen Chaudhary |
| Constituency | Bahraich |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 November 1951 Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | India |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Reshma Arif |
| Residence | Raj Bhavan, Patna |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Arif Mohammad Khan was born in Bulandshahr, India, on November 18, 1951. He went to school at Jamia Millia School in Delhi. He also studied at Aligarh Muslim University and Shia College at the University of Lucknow.
He translated the famous Indian song Vande Mataram into Urdu.
Political Journey
Arif Mohammad Khan began his political journey as a student leader. He was the President of the Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union in 1972-73. He also served as its honorary Secretary a year earlier.
Early Elections
In 1977, at the age of 26, he became a member of the legislative assembly in Uttar Pradesh. He joined the Indian National Congress party. He was elected to the Lok Sabha (India's lower house of Parliament) from Kanpur in 1980. Later, he was elected again from Bahraich in 1984.
Key Decisions and Roles
In 1986, he left the Indian National Congress. This was because he disagreed with a law about Muslim personal matters. He believed that divorced Muslim women should receive financial support. He then joined the Janata Dal party. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989. During the Janata Dal government, he served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Energy.
He later joined the Bahujan Samaj Party and was elected to the Lok Sabha again in 1998. In 2004, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was later appointed as the Governor of Kerala and then as the Governor of Bihar.
Views on Social Issues
Arif Mohammad Khan has often spoken about making changes within the Muslim community.
Supporting Reforms
He has supported the idea that triple talaq in India (a quick divorce method) should be illegal. He believes it should be punishable by law. He has also said that Muslim men should not be allowed to have multiple wives easily.
He supported the Karnataka High Court's decision about the hijab in 2022. He stated that forcing women to wear a hijab could limit their opportunities. He gave an example of a female police officer who needs to be able to do her job freely.
Current Activities
Arif Mohammad Khan has been involved in writing for a long time. He wrote a popular book in 2010 called Text and Context: Quran and Contemporary Challenges. He also writes articles and columns about Islam and Sufism. He has supported the idea of ensuring divorced Muslim women receive financial support.
Governor of Kerala (2019-2024)
On September 1, 2019, Arif Mohammad Khan was appointed the Governor of Kerala. He officially took office on September 6, 2019. He served in this role until December 24, 2024. During his time as Governor, there were some disagreements between his office and the state government.
Governor of Bihar (2025-Present)
On December 24, 2024, Arif Mohammad Khan was appointed as the Governor of Bihar. He officially started his new role on January 2, 2025.
Positions Held
| S. No. | From | To | Position | Party |
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| 1. | 1977 | 1980 | MLA (1st term) in 7th UP assembly from Syana | Janata Party |
| 2. | 1980 | 1984 | MP (1st term) in 7th Lok Sabha from Kanpur | INC |
| 3. | 1984 | 1989 | MP (2nd term) in 8th Lok Sabha from Bahraich | INC |
| 4. | 1989 | 1991 | MP (3rd term) in 9th Lok Sabha from Bahraich | Janata Dal |
| 5. | 1998 | 1999 | MP (4th term) in 12th Lok Sabha from Bahraich | BSP |
See Also
- Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986
- Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum
