Awn El Sharif Gasim served as a Former Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments.
Education
Educated locally, then sent to Khartoum North Intermediate School and Wadi Sayedna Secondary School. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Khartoum University in 1957 he went to London University where he obtained his Master of Arts degree in 1960.
Career
He began lecturing in 1959 at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. In 1961 he joined Khartoum University as a lecturer in the Arabic Department. He began writing hooks: first, one about Southern Sudan, then one on Sudan's colloquial language, then another on the diplomacy of Mohammed. Several others followed including his dictionary of colloquial language in the Sudan.
His academic interests took him to many Arab countries, to Nigeria for a languages conference, and to the United States of America on university exchange programmes. He became a senior ccturer and was appointed Director of ”te Arabic Department Translation entre in 1969. He went straight from the University to the cabinet in October 1971 and was confirmed in his post at the reshuffle in October 1972. He lost his place in the cabinet when it was streamlined in May 1973.
Personality
An authority on Arabic poetry and a lexicographer of colloquial language. A man of great academic standing, given cabinet rank at 38 because of his knowledge of religious traditions and his enthusiasm for preserving Arabic civilisation.