First woman in 100 years, Naima Khatoon appointed as AMU VC

New Delhi: Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), thus becoming the first woman to hold the top post in over 100 years, PTI reported on Monday.

Khatoon was appointed after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu, who is Visitor to the University.

“Naima Khatoon, Principal, Women’s College, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of AMU for a period of five years. The ECI has stated that the commission has no objection from the MCC angle to the proposal related to the appointment of the AMU VC subject to the condition that no political mileage be derived from it,” a source said.

Khatoon, who completed her PhD in psychology from AMU, was appointed as a lecturer in the same department in 1988 before being elevated to professor in 2006. She continued there before being appointed the principal of the Women’s College in 2014.

Founded in 1875 as Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College by Muslim educational reformer Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the institution became AMU in 1920, following passage of the Aligarh Muslim University Act.

In September 2020, AMU completed 100 years as a university, becoming one of the oldest universities in India. The university has had no woman vice chancellor so far.

In 1920, Begum Sultan Jahan was appointed as the AMU chancellor. She continues to be the only woman to have held the post.