Bashir Mann
Encyclopedia
Bashir Maan CBE
(born October 1926) is an Asian-Scottish politician, businessman, judge, social worker and writer. He was born in Maan village, near Qila Didar Singh
, Gujranwala District
, British India
(now modern day Pakistan
). His father had a small landholding there and his paternal uncle had already moved to Chicha Watni, District Sahiwal. He completed his high school studies at DB High High Scholl, Qila Didar Singh. He was an undergraduate and worked as a clerk at Lahore. Ultimately, he decided to leave for the United Kingdom.
He arrived in Glasgow
from his native Pakistan in March 1953 at the age of 26. By 1967, he was a magistrate. He opened one of the first shops in Glasgow selling alcohol at heavily discounted prices. He subsequently sold this side of his business concerns due to the conflict that it had with his Religious beliefs.
In 1970 he was the first Muslim to be elected to a public office in the United Kingdom, to serve as a Labour
councillor for the Kingston ward of the City of Glasgow Corporation. He allowed his Labour Party membership to lapse over the Blair/Bush Iraq invasion.
He played a major role in bringing the Muslim community together in Glasgow and having their own grand mosque and a center of congregation. He made efforts to give the community confidence and integrate in the Scottish society. He visited Bosnia and Herzegovina
with many Scottish Christian
leaders and made the plight of the Muslims known to all. He raised funds and collected aid. He highlighted the positive role of Pakistan Army
troops serving as UN peacekeepers
there to the world through a series of articles.
He has been awarded honorary degrees of doctorate by three Scottish universities. He is currently Convener of the Muslim Council of Scotland and President of the Islamic Centre Glasgow.
He wrote many articles in different news papers and journals and published his book "New Scots", to introduce the newly settled communities (manily from the Indian subcontinent, to their British compatriates. He remained active in the political affairs by actively participating in the meetings and contributing a lot.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born October 1926) is an Asian-Scottish politician, businessman, judge, social worker and writer. He was born in Maan village, near Qila Didar Singh
Qila Didar Singh
Qila Didar Singh is a town of Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at 32°8' N 74°1' E, west of Gujranwala city - the district capital. Its population was estimated to be 54,849 in 2005. Qila Didar Singh lies on the Gujranwala-Hafizabad Road, 17 km west of Gujranwala...
, Gujranwala District
Gujranwala District
Gujranwala District is a district in Punjab, Pakistan.- History :The village of Asarur which has been identified as the location of Taki, an ancient town, visited by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsiang contains immense ruins of Buddhist origin...
, British India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
(now modern day Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
). His father had a small landholding there and his paternal uncle had already moved to Chicha Watni, District Sahiwal. He completed his high school studies at DB High High Scholl, Qila Didar Singh. He was an undergraduate and worked as a clerk at Lahore. Ultimately, he decided to leave for the United Kingdom.
He arrived in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
from his native Pakistan in March 1953 at the age of 26. By 1967, he was a magistrate. He opened one of the first shops in Glasgow selling alcohol at heavily discounted prices. He subsequently sold this side of his business concerns due to the conflict that it had with his Religious beliefs.
In 1970 he was the first Muslim to be elected to a public office in the United Kingdom, to serve as a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
councillor for the Kingston ward of the City of Glasgow Corporation. He allowed his Labour Party membership to lapse over the Blair/Bush Iraq invasion.
He played a major role in bringing the Muslim community together in Glasgow and having their own grand mosque and a center of congregation. He made efforts to give the community confidence and integrate in the Scottish society. He visited Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
with many Scottish Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
leaders and made the plight of the Muslims known to all. He raised funds and collected aid. He highlighted the positive role of Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
troops serving as UN peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
there to the world through a series of articles.
He has been awarded honorary degrees of doctorate by three Scottish universities. He is currently Convener of the Muslim Council of Scotland and President of the Islamic Centre Glasgow.
He wrote many articles in different news papers and journals and published his book "New Scots", to introduce the newly settled communities (manily from the Indian subcontinent, to their British compatriates. He remained active in the political affairs by actively participating in the meetings and contributing a lot.
External links
- Profile on One Scotland
- Bashir Maan forced to quit charity post over anti-gay stance