123-year-old Aligarh Muslim University appoints female Vice-Chancellor

A Muslim woman has taken over the post of Vice Chancellor in Aligarh Muslim University, a well-known educational institution located in the city of Aligarh in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Ministry of Education of India has appointed Professor Naima Khatun as the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University after the approval of Indian President Draupadi Murmu and the imposition of certain conditions by the Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission of India has approved the appointment of Naima Khatun on the condition that no attempt will be made to take any political advantage from her appointment.

Prof. Naima was challenged in court as a candidate

Prof. Naima Khatun as a candidate for the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh University was challenged in the Allahabad High Court last year, but the court rejected the plea after which the petitioners again challenged the matter in the court. The case is currently pending.

According to Indian media, Professor Naima Khatun has been appointed as the female Vice Chancellor of the 123-year-old Aligarh Muslim University.

The first Chancellor of Aligarh University was also a woman

Begum Sultan Jahan was the first chancellor of Aligarh University in 1920.

Begum Sultan Jahan was the Nawab of Bhopal state in undivided India at that time, after her and before Professor Naima Khatun, no woman could hold this position till date.

The post was vacant for the last one year due to the resignation of Aligarh Muslim University’s former vice chancellor Tariq Mansoor.

Tariq Mansoor joined the BJP after resigning, which made him a member of the Legislative Council in Uttar Pradesh.

Naima Khatun is the third female Vice Chancellor

Naima Khatun is the third woman Vice-Chancellor in India to hold this post of a central university.

Before her, Professor Najma Akhtar has served as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia of Delhi, among the female vice chancellors of two important universities, who retired last year, while she is the vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University of Delhi. There is also a woman whose name is Professor Dholipuri Pandit.

Professor Naima is the author of several books

Earlier, Professor Naima Khatun was the Principal of Women’s College of Aligarh Muslim University in 2016, who resigned from this post last year.

Naima Khatun started her professional journey in August 1988 as a lecturer at Aligarh Muslim University.

Naima Khatun became an Associate Professor in 1998 and a Professor in 2006. She also served as the Chairperson of the Department of Psychology before being appointed Principal of the Women’s College.

Professor Naima Khatun is also the author of many books.

According to the Indian Ministry of Education, Professor Naima Khatun’s term of office will be 5 years from the date of her assumption of office or until she reaches 70 years of age.

It should be noted that Aligarh Muslim University was established by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a well-known leader who highlighted the importance of education among the Muslims of the subcontinent.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875, which got the status of a university in 1920.