Fairoz Khan

Family

Fairoz Khan was born on 21 March 1989, in the village of Pogal Paristan, Tehsil Ramsu, part of the Ramban District of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. His family was not involved in politics. His father Muzaffer Ahmed Khan is an engineer and his mother is a housewife; Fairoz's grandfather, Mohd Yousf Khan, was an influential contractor in the area. Fairoz's great-grandfather, Gahlum Kouider, was the sarpanch of Pogal Paristan. Fairoz Khan is the eldest of two brothers and four sisters. The family is credited with bringing high schools to the village.

Education

Khan completed his primary education through fourth grade in Ramban; seventh and eighth grades at Adnaan Model Academy, Banihal; ninth through eleventh grades at Government. High Secondary School, Ramban; and twelfth grade from Happy Model High Secondary School, Udhampur. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Government PG (Post Graduate) College Bhaderwah, and a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Masters of Arts in Political Science (MA) from Jammu University. At the university, he was an active student leader and protested against what he described as the university's "anti-student" policies. He is still pursuing his studies there.

Political career

At the age of 28, Khan was sworn-in as the president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). He was the first Kashmiri to hold this post.

Khan and his team can be credited with laying the foundation of the NSUI in Kashmir and Ladakh. He has in-charge status for Andhra Pradesh and had remained in charge of many states including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Telengana. He has worked in Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections and various state assembly elections. He worked to open the mobile schools for students from the former district of Doda. At an NSUI meeting, Khan discussed the need to open a university campus in Ramban.

Khan was appointed National Secretary of the NSUI on 16 December 2012, from a field of 120 candidates. Rohit Choudhary made the selection, with final approval coming from Rahul Gandhi. After his appointment, Khan was greeted by many supporters at the Jammu airport. Since his appointment, Khan has spoken at many rallies and seminars, such as a seminar about deforestation on 31 July 2012. He runs the online budget campaign of Agra University.

Khan was given charge of Andhra Pradesh NSUI and reformed the election process to be more democratic, opening the doors to common students. These elections brought in a new team from the student body.

Rallies

The following is an incomplete list of rallies that Khan has organised or taken part in:

Movements

Khan started a movement against the Jammu Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) over mass copying in exams, leading a series of protests and a signature campaign against the JKSSB and the government of Jammu and Kashmir. On December 25, Khan said that there was mass copying in all JKSSB centres on a paper for graduate-level posts. The JKSSB canceled 25 December exams for graduate-level posts and accepted all NSUI demands.

Khan congratulated students and NSUI leaders for their struggle and thanked the media for highlighting their demands.

Fight for fees reimbursement

Khan led the fight against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government in Telangana where more than 14 lakhs (1.4 million) students were suffering and many had taken their lives. He was in charge of many rallies and protests as well as the "Campus Chalo Yatra" – a bus full of student leaders that visited the campus in Telangana to see how much students are suffering due to non-release of fees reimbursements. Later on the Congress party also came in support.

Chenab Valley People's Association

Khan is the head of the Chenab Valley People's Association (CVPA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) operating throughout the Chenab Valley.

Campaign for the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act

The NSUI has been working to implement the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) in Jammu and Kashmir. Khan spoke at a rally on 3 September 2012, demanding the Act's implementation

Kashmir floods

Khan worked from the start of the floods in Jammu and Kashmir. He rescued people using boats; distributed food, fresh drinking water and clothes; and set up medical camps under the banner of the NSUI. He led the NSUI's relief work in Kashmir and Poonch. When All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi interacted with flood victims, Khan coordinated the overall interaction program.

Awards

Khan has won numerous local awards, including Best District President and many debate competitions.