Dr. Mohd Ashaq Malik

Ashaq, pen name Dr. M. Ashaq Raza, is formally a Botanist, Ph.D in Plant Virology from Aligarh Muslim University and holds honorary Doctorate in Gandhian Philosophy and D.Litt. besides an MA in Journalism and Mass Communication and a PG in Human Rights. From 2000 to 2008, he served under UNDP funded project in the Ministry of Education, State of Eritrea finally as Director of Research (2006-2008) at Eritrean Institute of Technology, Asmara, Eritrea. Back home to India in 2008, he joined, as Assistant Prof. of Botany, Higher Education Department, J&K Government in 2009. He initially served at GDC Akhnoor, then in GCW Gandhi Nagar and now posted in Govt PG College Rajouri for past three years. In GCW Gandhi Nagar he served as NSS Programme officer between 2012 -2016, and now serving as Convenor of NSS Advisory Committee and secretary of Science Club in PG College Rajouri.

Ashaq has been engaged in peace and development works for past 20 years. Between 2003 to 2008, he served for about 30 development organizations including a dozen UN offices/organizations including UNDP Syria, UNV Vietnam, UNHCR Egypt, UNV Angola, UNDP Georgia, UNDP Burkina Faso, UNDP West Indies, UNDP Laos PDR, UNV Germany, UNV Afghanistan, UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea(UNMEE) – as an online volunteer and was recipient of online volunteer of year award from United Nations Volunteers (Germany) in 2005. In 2010, he established voluntary NGO Attitude Change International and engaged, both formally and informally, in promotion and introduction of Peace education in curricula of Jammu and Kashmir. He is life member of/ associated with various scientific and development organizations/societies, including Red Cross, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Nepal, Amnesty International, Rotary International etc. Ashaq has won several awards for his peacebuilding activities.