James Masih Shera

James Masih Shera MBE (6 March 1946 – 15 January 2024) was a Pakistani-born British politician and educationist who was Mayor of Rugby.[1][2]

Personal life

James Masih Shera was born in a small rural village in Pakistan on 6 March 1946.[3][4] He died on 15 January 2024, at the age of 77.[5]

Career

In 1988, Shera became the first Pakistani to be elected Mayor of Rugby.[6][7] He was leader of the Labour Group in Rugby from 2005 to 2022. He also served as Chair Overview and Scrutiny Board, Rugby Borough Council from 2010 to 2014. In 2014, Shera made a record by getting elected as a councilor for the 10th consecutive term.[8]

Awards and recognition

• In 1992, he received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz from the President of Pakistan.[9][10]
• He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 Birthday Honours, for services to the NHS and communities in the West Midlands.[11][12]
• A road has been named in Rugby as ‘James Shera Way' in recognition of his campaigns as chair of the council of fellows of Warwickshire College.[13]
• In 2010, the University of Bedfordshire gave him an honorary doctorate of Business and Administration.[14]
• In 2017, he was awarded “Freedom of the Borough of Rugby”.[15]
• In 2021, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan awarded him honorary PhD in Arts & Letters.^[citation needed]
• In March 2023, he received the Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam from the President of Pakistan.[16]

References

1. "Beloved ex-mayor receives another prestigious honour". Rugby Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
2. Raj, Selva J. (1 April 2016). South Asian Christian Diaspora: Invisible Diaspora in Europe and North America. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-05229-6.
3. Green, Mike. "Councillors pay tribute to Cllr James Shera after 40 years' service". www.rugby.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
4. "Dr.James Shera; The pride and true face of Pakistan - Daily City News". 10 September 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
5. In Memoriam: James Masih Shera MBE (6th March 1946 – 15th January 2024)
6. "Labour leaders praise Rugby's longest-serving councillor at celebration event". Rugby Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
7. "Pakistani Dr James Shera makes historic record in England's Politics". Times of Islamabad. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
8. "Two doctorates for Rugby's longest-serving councillor after decades of work to promote intercultural harmony".
9. "Tribute paid to Dr James Shera". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
10. Ahmed, Akbar (27 February 2013). The Thistle and the Drone: How America's War on Terror Became a Global War on Tribal Islam. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8157-2379-0.
11. "Queen's birthday honours: MBEs". The Guardian. 16 June 2007. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
12. United Kingdom list: "No. 58358". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 15 June 2007. p. 21.
13. www.webspider.pk, Web Spider (pvt) Ltd. "In Conversation with Dr. James Shera". www.hilal.gov.pk. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
14. "Pakistani Christian educationist selected for 'Freedom' honour". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
15. "Pakistani Christian educationist selected for 'Freedom' honour". The News International. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
16. "Dr James Shera honoured with Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam". 17 August 2022.