S.Y. Quraishi

Dr S.Y. Quraishi was India’s 17th Chief Election Commissioner of India from 30 July 2010 to 10th June 2012. He was the first Muslim to hold this post in India. Having joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1971, Dr. Quraishi has held strategic and key positions in the Government of India. He figured on The Indian Express’ list of 50 Most Powerful Indians of 2011 and 2012 and on India Today’s High and Mighty Power List in 2012.

Dr Quraishi founded the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development and was its first Director, from 1993 to 1997. He was also Joint Secretary, Youth Affairs, from 1992 to 1997 and the Director General of Doordarshan from January 2002 to September 2003. S.Y. Quraishi also pioneered India’s biggest AIDS awareness programme and IEC campaign, 'Universities Talk AIDS'. He is well known in India and abroad as a development thinker and for his inclusive style of leadership and for bringing harmoniously together wide varieties of groups and institutions for achieving the common objectives of development. Dr Quraishi has received several prestigious awards - the Nehru Fellow Award, the Secular Harmony Award, the Silver Elephant, and the Defender of Democracy.  Currently, Dr Quraishi is Ambassador of Democracy at the International Institute for Supporting Democracy Worldwide.