Heptulla is first woman chancellor of Jamia

New Delhi: Manipur governor and former minority affairs minister Najma A. Heptulla has been appointed as the new “chancellor (Amir-e-Jamia)” of Jam-ia Millia Islamia, first woman to hold the top post in the varsity’s history.

The 77-year-old succeeds Lt. Gen. M.A. Zaki (Retd), who will complete his five-year term this month.

Grandniece of independent India’s first ed-ucation minister, Mau-lana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Heptulla has been a five-time member of the Rajya Sabha between 1986 and 2012 and deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha for 16 years.

Expressing his happiness over Dr Heptulla’s election as the chancellor, Prof Talat Ahmad, Jamia vice-chancellor, said, “The university will be greatly benefited from her rich experience in both political and public life.

“It will be our privilege to work with her and to learn from her distinguished career in parliament and internationally.”