Mansooruddin Faridi / New Delhi

The life of Sirajuddin Qureshi reads like a remarkable success story — a journey from a humble street vendor in Old Delhi to a visionary industrialist and social reformer who transformed the outlook of his community. Best known as the longest-serving president of the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), Qureshi, 77, was instrumental in the construction of its landmark building on Lodhi Road.

Yet, few know of his modest beginnings. His father ran a small tin karkhana — a workshop that made tin boxes — in Old Delhi. After completing his studies at Rahimya  Madarsa in Sadar Bazaar, young Sirajuddin would help his father in the workshop.

Even as a boy, he was known for his diligence and independence. Despite being dearly loved by his father, he preferred to earn his own living, selling Rooh Afza, kulfi, and bread on the footpaths of Old Delhi. Alongside his daily work, he nurtured a keen interest in education.

After completing his madrasa education, Qureshi joined the Anglo-Arabic School in Darya Ganj and later graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. He went on to earn a law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.

But his true calling lay in entrepreneurship. Armed with ambition and sharp business acumen, Qureshi rose to become one of India’s leading industrialists. While he created employment for thousands, he also emerged as a powerful voice for social reform — particularly in the field of girls’ education.

“It was about 20 years ago that I started a campaign urging every member of the Qureshi clan to pledge to educate their daughters,” he told Awaz–The Voice. Today, an estimated 70–80 per cent of women in the Qureshi community are educated — a transformation he takes immense pride in.

Qureshi also championed simple weddings and encouraged the youth to pursue modern professions beyond the community’s traditional meat trade. As a result, only about 20 per cent of Qureshis are now engaged in that business, while the rest have diversified into various other fields. Interestingly, he notes that only a fifth of workers in India’s meat industry are Muslims, though the sector significantly contributes to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

Sirajuddin Qureshi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

He also introduced a model of livestock rearing among farmers in backward regions, encouraging them to raise male buffalo calves commercially. Today, through a network of 160,000 farmer families, calf mortality has dropped from 80 per cent to 10 per cent, while milk production has increased by 15 per cent.

Expanding beyond the meat sector, Qureshi diversified into aviation, real estate, hospitality, and communications. Under his leadership, the Hind Group became the General Sales Agent for Thai Airways (Western India) in 2004, marking over two decades of experience in aviation.

Sirajuddin Qureshi with President Ramnath Kovind and his Press Secretary S M Khan

His achievements were recognised internationally when, in April 2010, he was among a select group of Indian industrialists invited by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Presidential Entrepreneurship Summit in Washington. Later, his business saw a decline, but his commitment to social causes remained undeterred.

Qureshi has been deeply involved in social, educational, and cultural organisations. He has served as president of the All India Jamiat-ul-Quresh and been associated with several key trade and cultural bodies, including the India-Kuwait Chamber of Commerce, Federation of India-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Noble Education Foundation, and various bilateral business councils.

His contributions have earned him many honours, including an Honorary Fellowship from the National Academy of Veterinary Sciences and the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Meat Industry from the All-India Food Processors Association in 2006.

Sirajuddin Qureshi as President of the IICC

As president of the IICC for nearly two decades, Qureshi oversaw the construction of its iconic building — completed in just 18 months at a cost of around ₹8–9 crore, financed primarily through membership fees and a bank loan. Today, the Centre stands as one of Delhi’s most prestigious cultural institutions, with multiple halls, an auditorium, a library, and a landscaped lawn that hosts high-profile events.

Among its many distinguished visitors have been Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Pranab Mukherjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and L.K. Advani. Known for maintaining cordial relations across the political spectrum, Qureshi also personally congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the formation of his government in 2014.

Looking back, Sirajuddin Qureshi takes quiet pride in witnessing the transformation of his community — with women excelling in diverse professions and the youth breaking traditional barriers.

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“It gives me immense satisfaction to see how far we’ve come,” he reflects. “The change we dreamed of has only just begun.”