Draft:Syed Mohd Irfan

Syed Mohd Irfan (born 13 May 1966) better known for his name Irfan, is an Indian broadcast journalist, television producer, and podcaster, best known as the founder producer and host of the celebrity talk show Guftagoo (2011–running). Irfan has produced a number of documentaries, special features and cultural shorts for Rajya Sabha Television where he worked as an Editor In Charge of the Art, culture and History Desk. He has contributed to showcase the tangible and intangible Indian cultural heritage at large.

Early life and background
Syed Mohd Irfan was born on May 13, 1966 and brought up in a small industrial colony Gurma Markundi in earstwhile Distt Mirzapur of Uttar Pradesh, to Syed Mohd Yamin and Nisar Bano. Irfan is the second eldest of six siblings. He obtained his high school education from Uttar Pradesh State Cement Corporation Ltd Uchchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Gurma, Mirzapur. Later he moved to Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh for higher studies. He graduated from University of Allahabad. He did his Masters in Mass Communication from Kurukshretra University, Kurukshetra.

Rajya Sabha TV
From 2011 to 2020, he was employed by Rajya Sabha TV the official TV Channel of the Upper House of Parliament of India, eventually as an Editor In Charge of the Art, culture and History Desk. He hosted several programmes, including the channel's flagship weekday show Guftagoo. He Under the series Guftagoo he interviewed people of national and international repute such as Mrinal Sen, Gulzar, Akshay Kumar, Wahida Rahman, Adoor Gopalkrishnan, Shabana Azmi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Maria Krzysztof Byrski, Vicky Kaushal, Naseeruddin Shah, Theodoros Terzopoulus, François-Xavier Durandy and Ebrahim Alkazi.

He made TV reports and features on International Film Festival of India apart from hosting shows such as Yaadon Ke Saaye where he explored the memories and imprints with the parliamentarians such as Mani Shankar Aiyer, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Sitaram Yechury, Chandan Mitra, Sheila Dixit and Shyam Benegal.

(1984 – 1993)
While pursuing his graduation (1984), Syed Mohd Irfan was selected as an Exhibition Curator by the University's Centenary Celebration Council. He started his journalistic career from the University student's journal Samkalin Abhivyakti as an Art Editor (1986). As a student, Irfan actively participated in various socio-cultural activities parallelly such as study circle, street theatre performances, poetry posters, choir songs and publicity. Later he took the responsibility as an associate editor in the weekly journal Samkalin Janmat (1989) which was being published from Patna (Bihar)

In 1993 he came to Delhi when Samkalin Janmat shifted its publishing base to Delhi. During his engagements with the weekly publication Irfan also started working with FM Radio at All India Radio.

(1997-2010)
As a FM Radio Jockey on Delhi airwaves Irfan introduced a novel experience of music shows with a well-researched scripts with a passionate way of interacting his audience. As a freelancer he contributed almost all the national Hindi newspapers and journals, with social cultural commentary. He also did translations, Creative writing, Radio Broadcasts, TV Reports, Documentaries and TV features. As a research fellow with Sarai, CSDS he has presented a finding on then newly emerging FM Radio Stations and their programming approach. With the world renowned artiste M.F.Husain he produced his autobiography in the form of five hours audio book titled Suno MF Husain Ki Kahani: A Journey in Sound (2003). As an Academic Associate Irfan conceived and conducted a course on Radio Jockeying with Indian Institute of Mass Communication. He also took teaching and training programmes of media aspirants in colleges and institutions in and around Delhi such as Zakir Husain College, Jamia Millia Islamia, Institute of Home Economics, South Campus Delhi University, Mahavir Tirthankar University, Makhanlal Chaturvedi Patrakarita Vishwavidyalay.

(2011-2020)
Worked with Rajya Sabha Television as the Editor in charge of Art, Culture and History Desk. Introduced celebrities talk shows such as Guftagoo, Yaadon Ke Saaye and Shakhsiyat. He also hosted panel discussions and appeared as an expert on the shows related to art, culture, literature, popular music and cinema. He was invited on NDTV as a panelist on shows based on popular music.

(2020-till date)
Active as an interviewer, content creator, podcaster and trainer independently.

Personal Life
Irfan is married to Zakiya Farzana a homemaker. He has two daughters- Sara and Farah, and a son Abaan.

Work
Bharat ka Swatantrata Sangram, Translation in Hindi (a book by Sukumar Sen, Publication Division, Govt of India) 1997

Ye Dilli Hai, an audio campaign for urban social awareness 1998

Suno MF Husain Ki Kahani, Audio book Autobiography ft MF Husain 2003

Worked as a content consultant in Prasar Bharati’s Central Archive, 2005-2010

Sadi Ka Safar, TV Series commemorating 100th anniversary of Cinema in India, 2013

Gumnam Hai Koi, Documentary Untold stories of Arrangers and Musicians in old Bollywood music, RSTV 2014

Guftagoo, Celebrity Talk Show (2011-2020)

Yaadon Ke Saaye, Film talks with the members of Parliament, 2013

As an MC (Master of Ceremony) hosted events for Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ministry of Telecommunications, Govt of India and Doordarshan

As a commentator did Republic Day commentary.

Reference
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