Sir (Dr.) Ziauddin Ahmad
Born: February 13, 1878 - Died: December 23, 1947
Vice-Chancellor: April 13th , 1935 to April 29th , 1938 & April 24th , 1941 to April 23th , 1947

Sir Ziauddin Ahmed was born in 1877 in the town of Meerut in India . A visionary an outstanding and versatile educationist and parliamentarian, he was also the longest serving Vice-Chancellor in the history of Aligarh Muslim University . His close association with Sir Syed Ahmed Khan added to his stature.

Sir Ziauddin Ahmed did his Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in 1895 from M.A.O. College , Aligarh , Master of Arts in Mathematics from Calcutta , and Allahabad Universities in 1897 and 1898 respectively. He joined Trinity College , Cambridge in 1901 for Honours degree in Mathematics, and graduated with excellence by securing first position. In 1904 Sir Ziauddin was awarded the Sir Isaac Newton Scholarship, a rare honor for a foreign graduate, and he was the first Indian to achieve this award. His thirst for knowledge took him to Gottingen University , Germany and in 1905 he completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics. In addition to this, Sir Ziauddin also visited Paris University in France , and Bologna University in Italy in 1905 for advanced studies in his chosen field of Mathematics.

On return from Europe in 1906, Sir Ziauddin Ahmed devoted the rest of his life to the M.A.O College and Aligarh Muslim University . When M.A.O. College was given the status of a University in 1920, he became its first Pro Vice-Chancellor. In 1935 he was elected as the Vice-Chancellor and remained so until 1946, thus becoming the longest serving Vice-Chancellor in the history of Aligarh Muslim University . In 1946 he was appointed as Rector of the University and held the position until his death in 1947.

Sir Ziauddin Ahmed took keen interest in University affairs, and raised funds for the University time and again. His dream to start a medical college at Aligarh Muslim University , was not realized in his lifetime, but has come true with the establishment of the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College at AMU, Aligarh .

In 1947, Dr Ziauddin undertook a tour of Europe and USA to study the latest trends and developments in higher education. While traveling by from Paris to London , he suffered a stroke and died on December 23, 1947. His untimely demise left void in the University and in the lives of his followers and well wishers. Dr. Ziauddin was laid to rest next to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in the premises of the main mosque of the Aligarh Muslim University according to his own wish.