Quick Info
| Profession | Student Activist |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 11/08/1987 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Birthplace | New Delhi, India |
Latest News about Umar Khalid
05/01/2026
The Supreme Court reportedly declined to grant Umar Khalid bail in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, leaving him in custody as the trial remains ongoing. Reports said the court viewed the allegations as serious and linked his role to the wider conspiracy, while also indicating he may seek bail again later under changed circumstances.
02/09/2025
The Delhi High Court rejected Umar Khalid's bail plea in the Delhi riots case, extending his continued detention without trial. The decision was widely reported as another setback in a case that has already kept him in jail for years.
Do you like Umar Khalid?
You can vote only once.
Bio/Wiki
| Syed Umar Khalid is an Indian student activist and former PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). | |
| He was born into a middle-class Muslim family in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, but identifies as agnostic and non-practicing, focusing on Marxism, secularism, and human rights. |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 173 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 65 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Education |
|
|---|
Personal Life
| Hobbies |
|
|---|---|
| Political Inclination | Communist Party of India |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
|---|---|
| Partner | Banojyotsna Lahiri (senior researcher, met at JNU in 2013) |
Family
| Father | Syed Qasim Ilyas (Social Activist, Owner of a Urdu Magazine) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Name |
| Siblings |
|
Career
| Former research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | |
| Leader of Democratic Students’ Union (DSU) at JNU | |
| Co-founded United Against Hate campaign | |
| Co-founded Bhagat Singh Ambedkar Students Organization (BASO) in 2016 with Anirban Bhattacharya | |
| Human rights activist and vocal critic of Indian government policies |
Favourites
| Musician(s) |
|
|---|---|
| Film(s) |
|
| TV Show | Coke Studio |
| Book(s) |
|
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Umar Khalid smokes. | |
| 2. It is unknown if Umar Khalid drinks alcohol. | |
| 3. His parents are originally from Amravati, Maharashtra, and later moved to Delhi in the 1980s. | |
| 4. Umar grew up in New Delhi and completed his education there. | |
| 5. Although born into a religious family, Umar never showed interest in religion. | |
| 6. In 2009, he appeared in a student-made documentary about Islamophobia. | |
| 7. He declined an invitation to study at Yale University to focus on working for minorities in India. | |
| 8. Umar was involved in a protest at JNU in 2016 and was subsequently arrested. | |
| 9. His arrest led to criticism of the BJP and protests in support of him at the University. | |
| 10. In 2016, a JNU panel suggested expelling Umar and fining Kanhaiya, which was later reviewed. | |
| 11. Umar's father defended him against media accusations of terrorism. | |
| 12. Umar compared himself to freedom fighters after his release from jail. | |
| 13. In 2016, Umar faced controversy after comparing Burhan Wani to Che Guevara. | |
| 14. His father expressed concerns about Umar's ideology conflicting with the state's views. | |
| 15. JNU's inquiry committee confirmed Umar's expulsion in 2018 related to the 2016 incident. | |
| 16. Umar narrowly escaped an attempted shooting in August 2018 at the Constitution Club of India. | |
| 17. He was targeted for leading peaceful protests opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). |