Omar Khalidi

Omar Khalidi (1952 – 29 November 2010), born in Hyderabad, India, was a Muslim scholar, a staff member of MIT in the US, and an author.

Early life and education
Khalidi was born in 1953 in Hyderabad, India. He was of Hadhrami descent.

Career
He is referred to by one commentator as the "Chronicler of Hyderabad and as a champion of minority rights". He was considered an international relations builder.

Scholar
His best known book is Hyderabad after the fall (book)|Hyderabad: After the Fall published in 1990.

Media contribution
Khalidi served as a regional Vice-President of American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, and was an active participant in the various activities of all other Indian Muslim organisations in the USA and Canada. His articles were published regularly in the MetroWest Daily News and he was an active columnist for various other journals, writing for the Economic and Political Weekly, The Outlook, India Abroad, Two Circles and other print and internet media.

Books
His books include:

Death
Khalidi died on 29 November 2010, in a train accident at Kendall Square, MBTA station in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His family published a statement in the Arab News on 30 November 2010: Khalidi drove in his car to the MIT campus and was probably trying to catch a train to buy medicine at the next station. He was diabetic, and it seems his sugar level had reached abnormal levels and he was hit by a train in Boston, United States His funeral prayers were held at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury.

He left his wife Nigar Khalidi and his daughter Aliya.