Dr. Najma Heptulla Appointed as First Woman Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University
- Dr. Najma A Heptulla, the governor of Manipur and former minority affairs minister has been appointed as the first woman chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University.
- She will take up her responsibilities from May 26, 2017, and will be serving for the tenure period of five years.
Dr. Najma A Heptulla, the governor of Manipur and former minority affairs minister has been unanimously appointed as the first women chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University. Although Heptulla will have to resign as Manipur Governor. The announcement was made at a special meeting which was held on May 25 by the court of the university.
The 77-year old Ms. Heptulla will succeed the former vice chancellor, Lieutenant General (Retd) MA Zaki. The outgoing chancellor will be completing his five-year term this month.
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Professor Talat Ahmad, the vice chancellor of the university confirming the appointment informed that Heptulla will be serving as the chancellor for the tenure period of five years. She will take up her responsibilities from May 26, 2017. He further expressed that the university is privileged to work with Ms. Heptulla and would be greatly benefited from her rich experience and her eminent career in parliament and internationally.
Mr. Ahmed, on the behalf of the university, appreciated the ex-Chancellor for his unsparing guidance and support.
Before being appointed as Manipur Governor, Heptulla has also served as the minister of minority affairs in Cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ms. Heptulla was nominated as the human development ambassador of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She also served as the President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) from the year 1999 until 2002. In 1993, she received distinction for heading the women's parliamentarians' group of IPU.
Dr. Heptulla is the author of a book named "AIDS: Approaches to Prevention". Also, she has written on various topics like ties between two countries - India and West Asia, reforms for women, environment, sustainable development and human social security.