By Jasim Mohammad,
At last the Aligarh Muslim University has got a responsible and dedicated man as Vice-Chancellor. Lt. General (Retd.) Zameeruddin Shah has been appointed the Vice-Chancellor and the AMU community particularly saner elements among students and teachers have hope that the university will again achieve new heights of academic excellence.
Often people think that Lt. General Zameeruddin Shah is only an army man with iron fist but the real picture is not that. Shah has considerable interest in the field of education too. A graduate of the Defence Services Staff, Higher Command Course at Army War College and National Defence College, he also holds a masters degree in defence studies & management from Madras University (1980) and M.Phil. from Indore University (1993). Interestingly, Lt. General Shah has vast experience in educational field. He was Instructor at Officer’s Training Academy, Chennai (1972-74) where he effectively trained college students for commissioning in Army. He was member of the faculty of studies in Army War College, Mhow in 1996 besides being Chairman of the Board of Governors of Sanik School, Purulia (West Bengal) from 2003-2005. He was Chairman of the Management Committee of the Army Institute of Management Kolkata (2004-05). Due to his extraordinary caliber, he was appointed President of Executive Council for Land Warfare Studies, Delhi. (2006-07)
Multifaceted personality of Lt. General Shah may be understood by the fact that he was elevated to the prestigious Armed Forces Tribunal with Principal Bench at New Delhi in June, 2009. It should be kept in mind that coveted post has the status of a High Court Judge.
Lt. General Shah is basically an army man. An alumnus of St. Joseph’s College, Nainital, National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy, he was commissioned on 9 June, 1968 into Light Regiment (Camel Pack). He took part in 1971 operations at Longewala (Jaisalmer Sector) with the Regiment. He also commanded 170 Field Regiment and participated in counter insurgency operations in North East and Punjab. During Operation “Parakram”. He commanded an Infantry division of Strike corps and has credit in quelling the genocide in Gujarat (2002). He has also credit to command Bengal Area and an Army Corps which had 30,000 troops and had combated insurgency in six north east states. He held prestigious post of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P&S) from 01, October, 2006 to 31 August 2008 from where he retired. He successfully modernised Army and the budget of management and control of Army. In recognition of his meritorious services, he was awarded Param Vishist Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishist Seva Medal.
Apart from all that, he also held diplomatic assignments successfully and proved his worthiness. He was defence attaché in Saudi Arabia (1994-97) and traveled widely in West Asia, South East Asia, Africa, Europe and USA.
A man of cool nature, Lt. General Shah is also a keen sportsman. He loves riding and is an avid golfer. His passion is wild life and he is an angler.
The Aligarh Muslim University is the gangotri of Muslim education in India. Its history and mission has been inscribed on Muslim psyche. AMU is fortunate enough to have such a Vice-Chancellor whose interest range from education to wildlife. There are clear indications that during his tenure, AMU will again fathom to academic excellence and its lost glory will certainly return. It is the high time when every Aligarian extend a helping hand to him. History will record that a general commanded AMU like an educationist.
The writer is Editor, The Aligarh Movement monthly. He can be contacted at [email protected])