Background
Omar Afzal was born on March 13, 1939 in Basti, India, in the family of Husain and Najma Afzal. he is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Omar Afzal was born on March 13, 1939 in Basti, India, in the family of Husain and Najma Afzal. he is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
In 1965 Omar received Master of Arts in English language and literature at Aligarh Muslim University. Then he earned Master of Arts in linguistics at Delhi University in 1971, and Doctor of Philosophy in linguistics at Cornell University in 1978.
Omar started his career as a teacher of English literature in Gauhati University, Dibrugarh, India. After that he was a teacher of Urdu and Hindi in American Institute of Indian Studies, in 1970-1972. Later he took a position of a teacher of English language and literature in Delhi University, Delhi, India.
Omar became a Southeast Asia assistant inCornell University in Ithaca, in 1973 and holds this position. He served as a chairperson of Center for Research and Communication and adviser to MECA. He also was a national coordinator at the Crescent Observation International Forum in 1981-1996.
On May 12, 1952, Omar married Salma Afzal, with whom he has five children: Bushra, Iqbal, Sameena, Sadia, and Mary A.