Noted social activist, educationist and columnist Firoz Bakht Ahmed has been nominated as Chancellor of Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) for a three year period.

A notification released by the registrar, MANUU on Thursday, said that the President, in his capacity as Visitor of the University, has appointed Firoz Bakht as the fifth Chancellor of the University.

He succeeds Zafar Sareshwala, it said.

"Firoz Bakht Ahmed is the grand nephew of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of the country. He is a prolific writer and authored many books in Urdu and Hindi, especially on Children's literature. He is also a freelance journalist and columnist," it said.

Firoz Bakht was also associated with Madrassa modernisation and Urdu medium schools upliftment.

He was appointed by the courts in various committees/enquiry committees assisting the judicial procedures for prompt justice.

Firoz Bakht was also associated with MANUU before its inception in 1997 as foundation panel member, the release added.