About

The Hamid Dalwai Institute of Muslim Studies (HDIMS) is a research-driven, public-interest institution committed to advancing educational mobility and gender justice among marginalized Muslim and Bahujan communities in India.

Rooted in Hamid Dalwai’s legacy, the Institute works at the intersection of scholarship, community engagement and policy-relevant research.

Our Origins

HDIMS (formerly HDIRI) was established in August 1995 to carry forward Dalwai’s reformist vision that placed secularism, equality and critical inquiry at the centre of social progress.
A group of prominent thinkers, writers, and social activists taking the initiative in its formation. Key figures involved in establishing the organisation included Prof. M. P. Rege, Dilip Chitre, Bhai Vaidya, Mehrunnisa Dalwai, Anwar Shaikh, Anwar Rajan, Sayyad Bhai, and Hussain Jamadar. Mehrunnisa Dalwai became its first President, and Anwar Rajan served as the organisation’s Secretary during this period.

From the outset, the mandate was clear: build an organisation that does not remain confined to discourse, but translates ideas into lived change.

First President – Mehrunnisa Dalwai

First Secretary – Anwar Rajan

How we work

HDIRI operates through a trustee-led governance model, where trustees are appointed through a process of identification, evaluation and acceptance, with renewal every five years. This ensures both continuity of values and infusion of new perspectives.

Our approach integrates:

• Research and documentation to build credible knowledge systems
• Public education and dialogue to shape discourse
• Field-based interventions to address structural inequities
• Scholarship and fellowship programmes to enable long-term change

Vision

A society anchored in justice, equality and rational thought, where marginalized communities have equitable access to knowledge, opportunity and dignity.

Mission

To generate, disseminate and apply knowledge that strengthens educational access, gender equity and social reform, particularly within marginalized communities, while fostering informed public discourse.

Focus Areas

Our work is guided by a set of clear priorities drawn from our founding objectives:

• Research and Knowledge Creation
  Advancing the study of minority experiences and social reform through publications, fellowships and documentation.
• Education and Mobility
  Enabling access to scholarships, mentoring and pathways to higher education.
• Gender Justice
  Addressing structural inequalities affecting women through research, health interventions and economic empowerment.
• Public Discourse and Secular Values
  Promoting constitutional values including equality, rationalism and national integration through programmes, seminars and publications.
• Institution Building and Collaboration
  Partnering with academic institutions, civil society organisations and publishers to expand reach and impact.

Milestones and Activities

Our Team

Legal and Institutional Framework

HDIRI is a registered public trust with full statutory compliance:

Registration Number: E2156, Pune

PAN: AAATH3671G

Certifications: 12A and 80G obtained