Mohammad Amin (historian)

Mohammad Amin
Born	22 January 1928 India
Died	15 December 2012 New Delhi
Occupation	Educationist
Awards	Padma Bhushan DLitt
Website	aminsaheb.com/index.html

Mohammad Amin was an Indian professor and historian. The Government of India honoured him in 2010 with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, for his services to the field of education.

Life sketch

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.

Mohammad Amin was born on 22 January 1928, at Qasba Mau-Aima, on the banks of River Ganges, in Allahabad district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. His school education started in Allahabad, then shifted to Mughal Sarai and finally culminated at Queens Collegiate School in Banares. Subsequently, he took his graduate degree in History from Allahabad University, in 1945, under the renowned historian, Sir Shafaat Ahmed Khan. He earned his Master's degree from Aligarh Muslim University in 1949, both in History and Law. Amin joined St. Stephens College as faculty member, but, in between, studied at Cornell University to secure a masters in 1952 and later, at Stanford University in 1962.

Mohammad Amin started his career, as a lawyer, in 1947, practising under a lawyer by name, Bachchan. However, the career as a lawyer was short-lived and Amin joined St. Stephen's College as a lecturer in 1949. He taught at the college for 39 years till he retired in 1989 as the Head of the Department of History. Amin was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Hamdard University in 1990 and worked there till 1993. After the stint at Jamia Hamdard, Amin worked as the Expert Historian at Al Beruni Institute, on invitation from the Government of Uzbekistan, during 1994–96.

Mohammad Amin was married to Khurshid and the couple had a son, Shahid Amin, who is a historian and a Rhodes Scholar, and a daughter, Ghazala, herself a media personality and a teacher. Mohammad Amin died on 15 December 2012, succumbing to age related illnesses, at the age of 84.

Positions

Allahabad University

• Head of Department of History – St. Stephens College, Delhi
• Vice-Chancellor – Jamia Hamdard University
• Chairman – Governing Body, the Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences
• Member – National Council of Population
• Member – Central Advisory Board, Ministry of Culture
• Member – Advisory Board, Archaeological Survey of India
• Trustee – Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

Awards and recognitions

Bab-e-syed, the gateway to Aligarh Muslim University

• Padma Bhushan – 2010
• Honorary Causa DLitt – Jamia Millia Islamia University – 2009

See also

• Shafaat Ahmed Khan
• St. Stephen's College, Delhi
• Aligarh Muslim University
• Allahabad University