Thankfully Professor Naima Khatoon has been declared as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. The Aligarian fraternity had been looking forward for long to this official announcement. Professor Naima Khatoon has been the Principal, Women’s College, Aligarh Muslim University. She had been one of the brightest students of the same College. Her association with the AMU, spans the last 46 years, initially as an outstanding student who always stood first in all of her examinations. She earned her doctorate in Psychology in 1989. On Monday 22 April 2024 this illustrious student rose to be the Vice Chancellor of AMU.
Interestingly enough, she took the charge of Vice Chancellorship from none other than her own husband, Professor Muhammad Gulrez, who had been the acting Vice Chancellor for a year. Let this be placed on record that Professor Gulrez is acclaimed for his substantial contribution to West Asian Studies. After the completion of Professor Tariq Mansoor’s tenure, he had been at the helm of AMU affairs and displayed utmost integrity and resilience. His stewardship deserves applause.
In July 2014, prior to assuming the office of Principal, Women’s College, Professor Naima Khatoon had been the Chairperson, Department of Psychology, AMU. Likewise, before her appointment as Professor in 2006, she had been teaching Psychology at the National University of Rwanda. Moreover, she served as PostDoctoral Fellow (1985-1988) at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. It may be recalled that she is the second Muslim lady Vice Chancellor of a Central University. This distinction was bagged 5 years ago by Jamia Millia Islamia when Dr. Najma Akhtar took over as the first Muslim lady Vice Chancellor. When Aligarh Muslim University was conferred with the status of a university in December 1920, its first elected Chancellor was Begum Sultan Jahan, the ruler of the princely state of Bhopal. Aligarians take pride in this distinction that they had elected a lady chancellor 104 years ago. Both the lady Muslim Vice Chancellors have been students of Aligarh Muslim University.
Professor Naima Khatoon’s contribution to the discipline of Psychology is evidenced by her 6 books and 31 papers which have won wide acclaim at both national and international levels. She has visited on academic assignments the USA, Romania, Türkiye, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda and Burundi.
A Vice Chancellor, apart from being a distinguished scholar, should also be a proven administrator. Professor Naima Khatoon has held the following administrative positions: Director General, Superintendent, Provost, Warden, Programme Officer NSS, Deputy Director, Residential Coaching Academy, Deputy Proctor and Counselor. She has made a mark while holding these key positions.
At AMU, the need of the hour is that Departments of Studies imparting professional and technical education should be given a boost. At the same time, there is a pressing need for introducing the emerging disciplines. It is highly likely that these new programmes of study would be launched successfully under the leadership of Professor Naima Khatoon. For carrying out regional/area studies, Professor Abdul Aleem, former Vice Chancellor, AMU had established the Department of West Asian Studies, chaired by Professor Maqbul Ahmad. Now new Centres should come up for undertaking the study of Central Asia and South East Asia. If separate Centres are not feasible, an Academy of International Studies, as at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi should be setup. For its launch, the expertise of Professor Muhammad Gulrez is readily available.
I was struck by Professor Gulrez’s discerning and astute step of appointing Professor M. Shafey Kidwai Director, Sir Syed Academy, AMU. Same holds true for Professor Naima Khatoon’s prudent and intelligent decision of appointing Professor Anwar Masud Alavi, Principal, Women’s College, soon after she took over as Vice Chancellor for, Professor Alvi stands out for his enviable command over Arabic and Persian and his administrative acumen. It is hoped that Professor Naima Khatoon will draw upon the expertise of the internationally renowned scholar, Professor Abdur Raheem Kidwai, Hony. Director, K.A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, who, apart from being a Professor of English, has earned accolades for his critique on the translations of the Quran into English and other languages.
Department of Islamic Studies and Faculty of Theology at AMU should develop into Think Tanks for Muslims across the world. For, besides being a premier academic institution, Aligarh Muslim University, enjoys fame as the centre of Muslim culture and civilization. It can transform the scenario of Indian Muslim Faculty members of the Department of Islamic Studies and Sunni and Shia Theology are committed to nation-building and welfare of the community. They can guide us best in the light of Scriptures. They are expected to be the beacon light for harmony and amity within the Indian Muslim community. Next to Kabah and the Prophet’s Mosque, the Jamey Mosque at AMU is perhaps the only mosque where both Sunnis and Shias offer congregational prayers. This model of fraternity should be replicated all over India. Aligarians should come forward for promoting a better understanding and unity among various schools of thought.
Indians and Aligarians are proud of the fact that the first educational institution imparting modern knowledge was established at Aligarh. It is equally gratifying for Aligarians that they have elected a Muslim lady as the Vice Chancellor of AMU. Both the lady Vice Chancellors (Professor Najma Akhtar and Professor Naima Khatoon) have been the enviable students of AMU. Professor Naima Khatoon has recently assumed office. There are many academic, administrative and socio-cultural assignments at AMU. She would bring laurels to the AMU. Her success would augur well for both the AMU and our country.
This is a pointer to the changing scene in our country. While Begum Sultan Jahan hailed from Bhopal, both Professor Najma Akhtar and Professor Naima Khatoon come from UP. The author of the AMU Anthem and an eminent Urdu poet, Abrarul Haq Majaz had expressed the hope that one day women would be the harbinger of social transformation. This has been coming true. It is a great pleasure to note that Professor Naima Khatoon, in addition to having impeccable academic credentials, is a practising Muslim Lady.
We wish Professor Khatoon the very best and pray fervently to Allah for her remarkable progress. May Allah enable her to take AMU to new heights of academic excellence.
[The writer is Professor Emeritus, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and Former Vice Chancellor, Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur]