Iftikhar Alam Khan, a pioneering museologist, founded Delhi's Natural History Museum along with several others across India, Iraq, and Somalia. A leading scholar of Sir Syed studies, he established and headed AMU's Museology department for a decade. Author of twelve Urdu books, he is best known for his play Pahle Aap, which champions communal harmony.
Ather Farouqui, a pre-eminent scholar of Urdu language politics and education, earned his PhD from JNU in 1995. Author of several books with OUP, Roli, and Hay House, his current research explores 1857 and its aftermath. A Sahitya Akademi Translation awardee, he serves as General Secretary of the Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hind), advocating Urdu's canonization and global relevance.