15 Facts About Surur Hoda

Surur Hoda was born in Chhapra in India, on 5 May 1928 into a Muslim family.

Surur Hoda then worked in the railway industry and then became active in trade union affairs, to such an extent that he found it necessary to leave the country and move to London in 1962.

Surur Hoda expressed his concern regarding the nuclear testing performed by India and Pakistan in 1998.

Surur Hoda was an associate of Jai Prakash Narayan, who had founded the Indian Socialist Party shortly after the independence.

Surur Hoda enjoyed a long friendship with George Fernandes, who had been president of the All India Railway men's Federation before becoming the leader of Indian Socialist Party in the early 1970s.

Surur Hoda was appointed as the Indian Socialist Party's European representative, and it was on that position he met many people.

Surur Hoda played an active part in mobilizing public opinions outside India against imposition of emergency and suspension of civil liberties in India.

Surur Hoda worked as the chief Executive of the India Development Group and which sought both to raise funds for the Schumacher Institute and to promote the ideas of Fritz Schumacher regarding sustainable Intermediate Technologies.

Surur Hoda was involved in issues relating to Bihari refugees in Bangladesh.

Surur Hoda organized a delegation, headed by Ennals and Ben Whitaker, which contributed to nearly 200,000 refugees returning to Pakistan.

Surur Hoda worked to promote Tibetan self-determination and the restoration of Fiji's democratic government.

For services to community relations in Britain and to international human rights, Surur Hoda was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2000.

Surur Hoda was very active on issues relating to South Asia.

Surur Hoda was awarded the Videsh Samman in London on 15 August 2000 by the High Commissioner of India.

Surur Hoda has always been steadfast believing passionately in the advocacy of all that Gandhiji stood for.