Ishaq Jamkhanawala

Dr. Ishaq Jamkhanawala (born 4 January 1930) was an educationist, social worker and politician based in Mumbai.A former MLA (Nagpada:1978), MLC and a two times minister (1978, 1988) from Maharashtra. He played a major role in expanding the Mumbai-based educational institution Anjuman-I-Islam as its President from 1983-2006..

Born on 4 January 1930 into a middle-class family of traders in Belgaum, Karnataka, Dr. Jamkhanawala was the first person to complete secondary education in his family. He was still in his high school when his father expired and pursued higher education by seeking scholarships.

He moved to Mumbai in the early 1950s in pursuit of higher education at Grant Medical College,Mumbai. In 1958, he opened his own dispensary in the Chowki Mohalla area of Mumbai which was populated by mostly poor people. In spite of having less money himself, he would treat the ones who couldn't afford for free.

As a student, he was elected secretary of the literary association and cultural society of Grant Medical College and also elected general secretary of the Muslim students union of Mumbai in the 1950s.

He contested and won his first election for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Nagpada in 1977 representing the Janata Party.He was inducted into the cabinet as a minister of state for housing, finance, Waqf, labour and protocol.

In 1988, he was again a minister of state for Urban development and Waqf as part of the Congress.As a minister, he was known for his discipline andregular attendance at his office and keeping an open door policy by granting all visitors easy access at Mumbai's Mantralaya.

He spoke for and participated in various public affairs. He was the president of the Hindustani Prachar Sabha founded by Mahatma Gandhi and a member of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. He orated many times in Marathi and also promoted Marathi language and literature. He was associated with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and a member of court of the Aligarh Muslim University

Dr. Jamkhanawala became the President of the educational institution Anjuman-I-Islam in 1983. He built and renovated several buildings under his leadership including orphanages.

Dr. Jamkhanawala loved reading and poetry. He died on 31 August 2008 in Mumbai.