Wajahat Habibullah facts for kids

Wajahat Habibullah was born on September 30, 1945. He is a very important person who worked for the Indian government for many years. He was the first Chief Information Commissioner of India. This means he helped make sure people could get information from the government. He also led the National Commission for Minorities, which works to protect the rights of minority groups. Before retiring in August 2005, he was part of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). This is a group of top government officials in India. He also worked as a Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, which deals with local government.

About Wajahat Habibullah

His Family and Early Life

Wajahat Habibullah comes from an important family in India. His father was General Enaith Habibullah, who was a leader at the National Defence Academy. His mother, Hamida Habibullah, was a politician and worked to improve education.

From 1991 to 1993, Wajahat Habibullah was a Divisional Commissioner in eight districts of Jammu and Kashmir. This means he was in charge of many areas there. During this time, he was involved in a serious car accident while trying to talk with militants (people using violence for political reasons) who had taken over the Hazratbal shrine.

His children, Amar Habibullah and Saif Habibullah, are successful businesspeople. His wife, Shahila Habibullah, is a social worker who helps communities. In July 2010, he was chosen to be a member of the World Bank's Info Appeals Board. This board helps people get information from the World Bank.

His Education

Wajahat Habibullah went to Welham Boys School and then The Doon School in Dehradun. He finished his Senior Cambridge exams in 1961. He then studied History at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. He continued his studies at the University of Delhi and received his Master of Arts in History in 1967. After his education, he joined the Indian Administrative Service.

Important Groups He Joined

Wajahat Habibullah has been a member of several important groups:

• Member of the Advisory Council for the Brookings Doha Center.
• Member of the International Advisory Council in Doha, Qatar.
• Member of the Advisory Council for the USIP Education and Training Center in Washington DC.
• Chairman of the Board of Governors for the National Institute of Technology in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.

Awards He Received

Wajahat Habibullah has been recognized for his work with several awards:

• Rajiv Gandhi Award for Excellence in Secularism in 1994. This award honors people who promote equality and respect for all religions.
• Gold Medal for Distinguished Service from the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir in 1996.
• Lala Ram Mohan History Award from Delhi University in 1967.