Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam, a well-known scholar, economist and Muslim community leader, passed away in Delhi on January 13, 2026. He was 80. Dr Alam was the founder of the Institute of Objective Studies, one of India’s leading Muslim-run think tanks, and was widely respected for his lifelong work in education, research and community development.
Born on October 9, 1945, Dr Alam earned a PhD in Economics from Aligarh Muslim University. Over the years, he held several important positions in India and abroad. He served as an Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance and National Economy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and later worked as an Associate Professor in the Department of Islamic Economics at Imam Mohammad bin Saud University in Riyadh. He also played a key role as Chief Coordinator for the translation of the Holy Quran at the King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex in Madinah and served as the Chief Representative of the International Islamic University Malaysia in India.
Founded in 1986, the Institute of Objective Studies under Dr Alam’s leadership completed more than 410 research projects, published over 400 books and reports, and organised more than 1,200 seminars, conferences and workshops. The institute focused on social, economic, educational and cultural issues related to Indian Muslims and became known for its research based policy suggestions aimed at empowerment and social development.
Senior journalist Iftikhar Geelani paid tribute on social media, saying, “Dr Alam was more than a scholar, economist and visionary administrator. He was a guiding light of selfless national service.” He added that Dr Alam lived a life rooted in knowledge, integrity and purpose, and quietly built institutions while standing for justice, dignity and equal rights.
Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, described his death as a major loss. “The death of noted Islamic scholar and intellectual Dr Manzoor Alam is an irreparable loss to the Muslim community of India,” Rahmani said, adding that Dr Alam was respected in both national and international academic circles and remained actively engaged with community issues despite prolonged illness.
Jamaat e Islami Hind president Syed Saadatullah Hussaini also expressed grief, calling Dr Alam “a serious scholar, a farsighted institution builder and a selfless servant of the community who believed in research, reason and responsible engagement with society.”
Dr Alam was associated with several major institutions. He served as a patron of the All India Milli Council and the Islamic Fiqh Academy India, and was a board member of the International Institute of Islamic Thought in the United States. He was also a founder member of the International Islamic Charitable Organisation in Kuwait and served on several international advisory bodies. He shared close ties with many national and international figures, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Ahmed Patel and Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Although some of his ambitious dreams such as setting up an Islamic university, media platforms and healthcare projects could not be completed, his work continues through the institutions he built, especially the Institute of Objective Studies.
Dr Alam is survived by his sons Mohammad Alam and Ibrahim Alam, who are continuing his legacy through their leadership roles at IOS and related publications. His Namaz e Janaza was offered after Maghrib prayers in Shaheen Bagh in South East Delhi, where he was also laid to rest.
