Mohammad Amin (historian)

Mohammad Amin
Born22 January 1928
Died15 December 2012 (aged 84)
New Delhi
OccupationEducationist
AwardsPadma Bhushan
DLitt
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20150811031351/http://aminsaheb.com/index.html

Mohammad Amin (22 January 1928 – 15 December 2012) was an Indian historian. He was the vice chancellor of Jamia Hamdard; taught History at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University for four decades; and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010.[1]

Early life and career

"We will always remember him not just as a fantastic teacher," Sashi Tharoor, former Under-Secretary-General of the UN and former Indian minister, said about Professor Amin, on hearing his death, "but also for his ability to make light of situations, his humanity, breadth and kindness."[2]

Amin was born at Qasba Mau-Aima, on the banks of River Ganges, in Prayagraj district of the former United Provinces.[3]

Amin was married to Khurshid and the couple had a son, Shahid Amin, the historian and Rhodes Scholar,[1] and a daughter, Ghazala, who is herself a media personality and a teacher.[2][4]

His school education started in Prayagraj, from where he moved to Mughal Sarai and finally to Queens Collegiate School in Banares.[1] Subsequently, he took a graduate degree in history from Allahabad University, in 1945, under the renowned historian, Sir Shafaat Ahmed Khan.[1] He earned his master's degree from Aligarh Muslim University in 1949, in both history and law.

Academics

Mohammad Amin started his career, as a lawyer, in 1947, practising under a lawyer, Bachchan. However, his career as a lawyer was short-lived and he joined St. Stephen's College, Delhi, as a lecturer in 1949, although in between he studied at Cornell University where he secured a master's degree in 1952 and later at Stanford University (1962).[1][3] He taught at St. Stephen's for 39 years till he retired in 1989 as the Head of the Department of History.

He worked as an expert historian at Al Beruni Institute, on the invitation of the Government of Uzbekistan, from 1994–96.[3]

Administrative

He was appointed as the vice-chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University in 1990[5] and worked there till 1993.[1][3][2][6]

He was the chairman of the Governing Body of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences[7][3] He held memberships of numerous governing bodies of educational institutions, such as the National Council of Population, the central advisory board of the Ministry of Culture, the advisory board of the Archaeological Survey of India and the board of trustees of the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata[3]

Awards and recognitions

Death

Amin died on 15 December 2012, succumbing to age-related illnesses, at the age of 84.[2][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Interview with Dr Mohammed Amin". St Stephen's College. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Historian Mohd Amin passes away". Hindustan Times. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "About Us". Amin Saab. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Former Jamia VC M Amin no more". Times of India. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Prof Mohammed Amin". Aligarh movement. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Jamia Hamdard". Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Governing Body". Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences. 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  8. ^ "This Year's Padma Awards announced". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Former Jamia VC Mohammad Amin dead". DNA India. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
    - "Former Jamia VC Mohammad Amin dead". Yahoo News. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
    - "Former Jamia VC Mohammad Amin dead". Siasat. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
    - "Historian Mohammed Amin dies at 86". Indian Express. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
    - "Memories". aminsaheb.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.