By TCN News,
New Delhi: Eminent Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik is in the 100 Most Powerful Indians in 2010 list published recently by The Indian Express. Ranked at 89, he is much ahead of other religious gurus like Baba Ramdev (at No. 99) and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (at No. 100). There are eight Muslims in the list.
Other seven Muslims are, however, much ahead of Dr Zakir Naik: Congress leader Ahmed Patel (10), AR Rahman (31), Aamir Khan (39), Shah Rukh Khan (47), Omar Abdullah (57), Azim Premji (60).
Dr Zakir Naik
The Sunday Express, dated 31st January 2010, published The Indian Express list of the “100 Most Powerful Indians in 2010” amongst the Billion Plus population of India.
44-years-old Dr. Zakir Naik is ranked No. 89. From amongst the few Muslims in this list of 100, Dr. Zakir Naik is the only Muslim Islamic Preacher/Scholar/Orator. The others being a Political Secretary, a Politician, a Government Official, a Business Magnet and 3 Film Personalities.
A.R. Rahman
Amongst the “Spiritual/Religious Gurus” though he was the only Muslim and No. 3 in 2009 list, this year (2010) Dr. Zakir Naik topped the List of Spiritual/Religious Gurus at No. 89, for preaching of Islam, followed by Jaggi Vasudev (at No. 94, for his trees planting work), Baba Ramdev (at No. 99, for his Yoga work) and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (at No. 100, for his Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique work) respectively.
In the 2nd most populous country in the world, having more than 80% non-Muslim population, India, a Muslim ‘preacher of Islam’ like Dr. Zakir Naik is ranked practically the most powerful “Spiritual/Religious Guru”.
Shah Rukh Khan
Dr. Zakir Naik was recently also selected and listed in “The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World” (without rankings) published by the George Washington University, USA.
While giving a brief introduction of Dr Zakir Naik, Sunday Express says: The evangelist, who wears suits and ties and preaches Islam in English, is a powerful orator. His sermons on Peace TV-English boast of a viewership of 100 million. The channel is aired in more than 125 countries and was launched in North America last year. Last year, he launched Peace TV Urdu, which has 50 million viewers. In the last 14 years, Naik has given 1,300 public talks, including 100 in 2009.
Ahmed Patel
The daily further says: Naik’s 10-day “peace conference” last November in Mumbai was attended by a million people. His lecture at the same conference was attended by around 2 lakh, including former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Dr Naik, the daily says, is planning to launch Peace TV-Bangla by December this year and a news channel by 2012 or 2013.
Amir Khan
Azim Premji
Omar Abdullah