Malick Asghar Hashmi/New Delhi 

In a conversation with Awaz – The Voice, Rayeen remarked that politics alone cannot be the solution to every problem. Guided by this conviction, he founded the Pasmanda Vikas Foundation a little over a year ago. Since then, the organisation has made notable strides in improving lives and rekindling hope and confidence among Pasmanda Muslims, who constitute nearly 80 percent of India’s Muslim population.

Unlike groups that confine their efforts to political advocacy, the foundation addresses core issues such as education, health, economic empowerment, and social justice. Rayeen believes that meaningful progress for Pasmandas can only come through collective awakening and cooperation, especially from the Ashraf class.

Breaking the old perception that the Pasmanda movement stands in opposition to the Ashraf elite, Rayeen has brought people from the Ashraf community into his organisation. His vision is to build the Pasmanda society not as a political vote bank but as a self-reliant and empowered community.

Mohammed Meraj Rayeen at India Gate

Hailing from Vaishali in Bihar, Meraj Rayeen moved to Delhi, where he established the foundation along with his wife, Nikhat Parveen. He also runs a factory that manufactures motorcycle parts, balancing his professional responsibilities, family life, and social service with remarkable dedication.

Besides leading the foundation, Rayeen serves as the vice president of Dr. Ijaz Ali’s All India Muslim Morcha and is a member of the executive committee of the BJP Minority Morcha, blending his political engagement with his social mission.

Recently, the foundation organised the Qaumi Talimi Bedari Conference at Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s Madni Hall, focusing on modern education in madrasas. During the event, computer kits were distributed among students from five madrasas. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind General Secretary Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi lauded the initiative and urged Rayeen to also focus on healthcare, stating that health is as essential as education, for only a healthy citizen can contribute to nation-building.

Mohammed Meraj Rayeen with locals celebrating a national day

Rayeen firmly believes that modern education holds the key to the Pasmanda community’s advancement. His next mission is to distribute computer kits to students in 350 madrasas in Haryana’s Nuh district, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional learning and modern technology. This, he says, will open new employment avenues and create a brighter future for young Pasmandas across the country.

The foundation’s work spans multiple areas including education, financial empowerment, legal aid, skill development, healthcare, and community outreach. It provides scholarships and career guidance to students, supports youth in starting their own ventures, offers legal assistance to those facing social or legal challenges, and organises training programmes and health initiatives. Through these multifaceted efforts, the foundation is transforming into a movement rather than remaining just an NGO.

Rayeen leads a diverse team that includes both men and women. The foundation’s guidance board features scholars such as Akram Hussain Qasmi, Mufti Mehboob  Rehman Qasmi of Deoband, Prof. Aftab Alam Ansari and Dr. Khadija Tahera of Delhi University, along with social workers Abdus Salam and Syed Farooq Sayyar. Notably, Murtuza Alam, founder of the Dalit Muslim Halalkhor Kalyan Parishad, has also joined the team, strengthening the Pasmanda–Dalit alliance.

Mohammed Meraj Rayeen with young girls

The women’s wing, led by activists including Anjum Ara Sultanat and Advocate Farah Mirza, focuses on women’s education, employment, and empowerment by organising workshops and seminars.

Rayeen views reservation as a cornerstone for achieving Pasmanda rights. “Pasmandas will have to fight a long battle for their rights, and that’s only possible through collective effort,” he asserts. In a recent meeting with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, he raised the issue of Muslim exclusion from Section 314, reflecting his open-minded and inclusive approach.

“The mission of our foundation,” Rayeen told Awaz – The Voice, “is to bring equality and prosperity to Muslim OBCs, SCs, and STs, while promoting unity and brotherhood among all citizens of India.”

At a time when the Pasmanda community is often reduced to a political constituency, Meraj Rayeen’s initiative offers a refreshing and forward-looking model. His vision shows that the Pasmanda movement is no longer confined to slogans or politics—it is being realised through tangible action at the grassroots level.

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The movement he leads is shaping a future where the Pasmanda community stands not merely as a symbol of struggle, but as a beacon of development, empowerment, and self-reliance.