SYED ALI MUJTABA

SYED ALI MUJTABA(in black) is a working Journalist currently based in Chennai, India. He has earned his PhD, from School of International studies Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has a distinction of being the only Indian in fall 2003 to get Jefferson Fellowship offered by the East West Center Hawaii. He has authored two books, “The Demand for Partition of India and British Policy 1940-45,” Mittal publication 2002 and “Soundings on South Asia”, New Dawn publication, 2005. He has contributed a chapter each in four edited volumes. His research papers have appeared in Indian Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis (IDSA), Journal of South Asia, Jaipur and Polsan studies, Nepal. An abstract of his paper appeared in Political Science Abstract from France. Mujtaba took his bachelors humorous degree and Masters from the center of advanced study in medieval Indian history from Aligarh Muslim University. He has qualified National Education Test and was recipient of Junior and senior scholarship from the University Grant Commission of India during his PhD. During his doctoral research he also earned government scholarship for his field trip to United Kingdom. He was based in London and researched at India Office, Public Records, British Museum, SOAS libraries. During his stay in London he also visited the libraries of the Oxford and Cambridge Universities. During one of his visits he presented a paper in a student’s forum at Darwin College, Cambridge. He also went to Nepal to present a paper at the Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. As Jefferson fellow he visited US, South Korea and Vietnam and Singapore. Mujtaba has been doing TV anchoring for http://www.mizzima.tv/ and has even made a documentary film for an American film producer. Mujtaba runs South Asia Contact Group on the Internet that propagates the idea of regionalism in South Asia.

Summary of Educational Qualification:

· Awarded Ph.D. from South Asia Division, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University 1999. Thesis Topic: “The Demand for Partition of India and British Policy 1940-45”. Supervisor: Professor Dr (Mrs.) Uma Singh.
· M.Phil from South Asia Division, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi with C.G.P.A 6.5, A Minus 1989. Dissertation topic: "Partition and Pakistan's Historiography" with Supervisor Professor Dr (Mrs.) Uma Singh.
· Master of Arts, Specialization in Medieval India History from Centre of Advanced Studies Aligarh Muslim University, AMU, UP, in 1985 with First Division.
· Bachelor of Arts, (History Honors) AMU Aligarh, UP in 1982 with First Division, Subjects: Economics and Political Science.
· Pre-University from A.M.U Aligarh, UP in 1978 with First Division Subjects: History, Economics and Psychology.

. Secondary School Certificate SSC, (under CBSC pattern) from Kendriya Vidayala (Central School), R.K Puram, Sector Eight, New Delhi (1978) Second Division.
· Primary School from Notre Dame Academy at Jamalpur, Munger, Bihar.

Academic Distinction:

· Qualified National Education Test (NET) Master level Competition conducted by University Grants Commission of India in 1986 for the award of Junior/Senior research fellowship to do M.Phil / PhD programme.
· University Grant Commission of India awarded field trip grant to visit United Kingdom for six months to collect research related material for the doctoral work.


Publications: Books and Chapters:
"Soundings on South Asia,” published by New Dawn Publication, New Delhi, in 2004. The book, a collection of my journalistic essays is marketed simultaneously in India, UK and USA.

Book Review:

1- A- Delving deep into South Asia by Col. R HariharanSouth Asia Analysis Group (SAAG), New Delhi,

B- Indolink , California, http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleB.php?id=052405054932

2-South Asian Union - An utopian idea by Rear Admiral (Retd) Mohan Raman, VSM in ChennaiOnline

3- Singing a familiar tune by Dr Mehtab Ali Shah- -Dawan, Pakistan

4-Meaningful unity in diversity By Sohail Ashraf - 'Khaleej Times', Dubai,

*“The Demand for Partition of India and British Policy 1940-45”, Mittal Publishers of New Delhi 2002.

Book Review

The Demand for Partition of India - Reviewed by: Dhanalakshmi Ayyer

* A chapter entitled, “South Asia Predicament and Prospects,” in ‘South Asia in 21st century’, edited by N.K Jha, South Asia Publishers, New Delhi, 2003.

*A chapter entitled:“Relevance of Non Aligned Movement in Uni-polar world” in “Jawaharlal Nehru; The Architect of India’s foreign policy” edited by Thoufiq Nizami

* “Partition of India- A collective Reading,” in finishing stage, likely to be out soon.
Research Papers:
* Jefferson fellows working paper-“Searching for peace in Kashmir,” fall 2003, East West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
* Research paper entitled; “South Asia and the Emerging New World Order” published in Strategic Studies of Indian Institute and Defence Analysis (IDSA) Co- authored with Bruce Vaughan of Canberra University in October 1992.
* Abstract of the paper, South Asia and Emerging New World Order got published at International Political Science Abstracts, Documentation Politique International, Paris, France.
* Research paper entitled: “Migration and National Integration,” got published at Polsan studies, Nepal, 1994.
* Research paper entitled; “Ethnic Conflict: Karachi's Case” published in Mainstream, Vol.XXVIII No29, May 2, 1990.
· Research paper entitled; “Partition of India: Pakistan's Historical Perspective”, published in Mainstream, Vol.XXVIII, No17, February 17, 1990.

Seminar papers presented:

*Paper “India Myanmar Trade Relations – A Reality Check,” presented at the seminar, ‘India –Myanmar Geopolitical and Security Relations –Measures for Improving Trade and Economic Ties,’ organized by, Asia Centre, Bangalore July on 7, 2007.*Paper “Towards Building a South Asian Union” presented at the international seminar, “Envisioning New South Asia,” organized by Centre for SAARC Studies, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, from March 29-31, 2007
*Paper “Bihar – Challenge to Development: - presented at Observer Research foundation, Chennai January 27, 2007 . *Paper “India Myanmar Relations predicament and prospects” – presented at Observer Research foundation, Chennai August 26, 2006.
*Talk on “Bihar case of regionalism or sub nationali

sm” at teachers refreshing course organized by Public Administration Department, University of Madras December 12, 2005.
*Seminar Paper, "Internet News-Case study of Chennai Online,” presented at EWC/EWCA South Asia Regional Conference 'Building the South Asian Community in a Global Context,’ under sub theme; "Perspectives on the Burgeoning Non-Print Media: TV, Internet," at India Habitat Center, Lodi Road, New Delhi on November 16-18, 2005.
*Presented seminar paper entitled, “Relevance of Non- Align Movement in the Uni-polar world”, presented at the national seminar on Jawharlal Nehru: “The Architect of India’s Foreign Policy”, organized by Centre for Nehru Studies, Department of Political Science Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, India on 8,9 December 2004.
*Presented seminar paper entitled; “Ethnicity as a factor in peace and security in South Asia”, presented at the seminar “Challenges to peace and security in South Asia- Emerging trends,” organised by Department of Defence Study, University of Madras, 19 February 2004.
*As part of Jefferson fellowship programme, presented a working paper on “Searching for peace in Kashmir,” in fall 2003, East West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
*Presented seminar paper entitled; “Nehru and Minorities of India,” at the UGC sponsored seminar on ‘Nehru the Nation Builder,’ organized by Centre for Nehru Studies Department of Political Science Pondicerry University on 12-13 February 2002, at Pondicherry.
*Presented seminar paper entitled; “Migration and National Integration,” presented at Nepal Political Science Association, Tribhuvan University, Katmandu on 16-17 May 1994.
*Presented a research paper entitled; “South Asia's Predicament and Prospects, at the forum “Expert to lay”, Darwin College, Cambridge. UK, January 1994.
Seminars and Workshops attended:
*Invited for national seminar on “Comprehensive Security Issues and Challenges- An Indian Perspective,” Department of International Studies, Srella Maris College, Chennai, 6-7 January 2005.
* Invited for seminars and workshops organized by Nehruvian Studies, and Department of Political Science and International Relation, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry.
* Invited for seminars and Workshops organized Defence and strategic studies, University of Madras.
* Invited for seminars and workshops organized by a national tank called Observer Research Foundation, (Chennai Chapter)
* Invited for seminars and workshops organized by a national think tank Center for Security Analysis (Chennai Chapter)
*Invited for International Seminar on South Asia as a delegate at the South Asia centre Vishakapatnam Andhra Pradesh in 1997.
* Invited for a seminar at the South Asia center, Jaipur, Rajasthan in 1992.
* Did some research papers and Newspaper writings with an American, Bruce Vaughan, on field trip to India in 1991 pursuing doctoral degree at Australian National University, Canberra.

Summary of Journalistic Work Experience:
* Working as Senior Editorial Staff at http://www.chennaionline.com/, a news web-portal in Chennai, India.
* Worked as Senior Reporter with News Today, an English eveninger in Chennai from July –August 2004.
* Worked as Assistant News Editor, with 24 hours English news channel of Sun Television Network , Chennai from March 2000-June 2004.
*Worked as Assistant News Editor, with English News, Raj Television Network, Chennai from 1998- 2000.
* Worked as Assistant Editor with broadsheet English daily "The Navhind Times” Goa from March 1998 to August 1998. .
* Worked as Reporter with "Trinity Mirror” English eveninger from August 1997 to February 1998.
* Did Freelance reporting for Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad in early 1997.
* Worked as sub-editor with the defunct broadsheet daily "Andhra Pradesh Times,” from December 1996 to February 1997, in Hyderabad.
* Worked as Staff Reporter, with unlaunched broadsheet daily newspaper "The Guardian of Politics and Business," from October 1994 to November 1996, in Hyderabad.
*Did Freelance reporting for several upcountry Newspapers while pursuing studies. .


Nature of Work Experience:

Working as News Editor at http://www.chennaionline.com/ and in charge of the late evening shift and my job involves editing reporters and wire copies of news agencies according to the portal’s style-sheet and host them on the website. My job demands quick judgment of news selection and downloading, online editing and publishing skills. I can handle the newsroom job like write, edit, compile, coordinate news, select sound bites and visuals, edit video, record and monitor news. I can do news anchoring, reporting and interviews and have covered Parliament, State Secretariat, Press Information Bureau, political parties and speeches of high profile personalities, International Film festival, football tournament, Cricket and Polo matches.


Area of Journalistic Write-ups:

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia Israel, China, SAARC, NAM, Youth, Health Care, Security, Disarmament, Economy, Caste and Religion, Nationalism, communalism, regionalism etc.


Write-ups published in:
· National Dailies: The New Indian Express, The Pioneer, Observer of Politics and Business, Sunday Observer, National Herald, The Independent, Patriot and Mid Day.
· Regional Dallies: The Assam Tribune, Hitvada, The Lokmat Times, The Tribune, The Navhind Times, O Herald O, National Mail, Free Press Journal, Rajasthan Patrika, Kashmir Times, Eastern Clarion, Sun Times, Radiance, North India Patrika, Amrit Bazar Patrika, Lokmat Times, Madhaya Pradesh Chronicle, Deccan Chronicle, Deccan Herald.
· Magazines: HIMAL, Mainstream, Link, Aside, Indian Dominion, Third Concept, Meantime.
· Websites: chennaionline.com indolink.com, globalpolitician.com, indiamuslims.info, despardes.com, dayafter.com

Celebrities Interviewed
Samuel P Huntington, Edward D Bono, Jeffery Sacks, James Harrington, Cat Stevenson, Carlos Moya, Zafar Iqbal, Bismillah Khan, Altaf Hussain, Rauff Hakim, Anupam Kher, Kamal Khan, Bhupen Hazarika, Arun Shorie, Abdul Ghani Lone, A.P. Venkatesaran, Arunditi Gosh Yogeswarn Manicam etc

Walk and Talk show at Mizzima TV
Do walk and talk video programme on Mizzima TV (http://www.mizzima.tv/) on Burma related issues. Check my videos.
1.Burma In the Making
2.Talking about Asia’s iron-curtain
3.Hedged between China and India – where does Burma stand?
4.Role of Burmese Navy in the Region
5.Burma Bazaar

Also do freelance reporting on Burma issues for the Mizzima news service (http://www.mizzzima.com/)

Documentary Films
Beyond Empires is a documentary film on Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, the first protestant missionary in India. This was done for American Film maker Chistopher Gilbert
whose company name is Lamp Post Media. This is a six-minutes trailer of the one-hour film that is under the production stage. The trailer of Beyond Empires can be accessed also at YOUTUBE. There are more videos on the making of the documentary available at (http://www.lamppostmedia.net/beyond_empires/index.html).

Teaching Journalism :
Teaching students of postgraduate students at ACE Loyola a semester course on interview skills. Besides also called by few colleges of Journalism and visual communication to talk on Journalism and visual media and Internet media scene.


Travel and Learning:
*As part of Jefferson Fellow, fall 2003, at the East West center, visited Hawaii, Washington, Seoul and Hanoi.
*As a part of my PhD programme had been on a field trip to United Kingdom in 1993-94. During my six months of stay I used India office Library, Public Records Library, SOAS library, British Museum in London. I also frequented to Oxford and Cambridge universities.
*Visited Nepal in 1994 to present a paper on “Migration and National integration” at Trubhuvan University, Katmandu.

Professional Membership:
Press Club of Hyderabad and Media Club of Hyderabad. British Library, American library, member Tamil Nadu Journalist Association, Chennai. Member Chennai press club.

Professional Association:
Media and Communication Incharge EWC Hawaii, Chennai chapter, Association of British Scholars in India, Chennai Chapter, India News and Feature Alliance (INFA) Feature and News Alliance (VANA) Feature and News Alliance (FANA) Contemporary News and Features (CNF) Interpretative News and Views (INAV) Good News and Tell zoom, television studios based in Chennai.


Volunteer Experience:
Society for learning through Education and Training (SALT) at Hyderabad and Cry- Chennai.

Extracurricular Activities:
Sportsman; played Football and Cricket at school, university and district, provincial and club level:
· Represented Kendriya Vidhialya Sanghathan football team at XXII National School Games, conducted by Sports Games Federation of India at Amritsar, Punjab in 1977.
· AMU, junior’s District football team which won the UP state, junior inter- district state championship 1978
· AMU football team at North Zone Inter-varsity and All India Inter- University Championship 1979.
· Played senior ‘A’ division level football leagues since 1978-84.
· Represented Press club of Hyderabad at All India Inter- Press Club cricket tournament for Medinova trophy in Bangalore 1996.

Interests and Activities:
Traveling, watching television, net surfing, listing to music, reading non-fiction, writing and research related activities.

Computer Literacy:
Well acquainted with Desk Top Publishing with knowledge of Word, Word pad, Word perfect, Notepad, Page Maker, Quark Express packages. Familiar with both, IBM and Apple Power Macintosh computers