Aligarh Muslim University has given India a President, a two-term Vice-President, independent India’s first Test cricket captain, an Olympic gold medal-winning hockey captain, major Urdu writers and a leading virologist. The 12 Aligs below are among the best known, with what they studied at Aligarh, or when, wherever the record is clear.
The list covers politics, sport, film, literature and science. It is not a ranking. For more on the university’s past, see our History section.
1. Dr Zakir Husain
Zakir Husain joined the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College in 1913 and graduated in 1918, studying philosophy, English literature and economics. He completed his master’s in 1920 and briefly taught at the college. The same year he was among the founders of Jamia Millia Islamia, which he later led as vice-chancellor from 1926 to 1948.
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He returned to Aligarh as AMU’s vice-chancellor in 1948. He received the Bharat Ratna in 1963 and served as the third President of India from 13 May 1967 until his death in office on 3 May 1969.
Why it matters: He is the only Alig to have held the country’s highest office.
2. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai
Kidwai graduated from MAO College before AMU became a university. In Jawaharlal Nehru’s first cabinet he was independent India’s first Communications minister, holding the post from 15 August 1947 to April 1952.
He then served as Minister of Food and Agriculture from May 1952 until his death in October 1954. He had also held the agriculture portfolio in the interim government before Independence.
Why it matters: He was one of the earliest Aligs in a Union cabinet.
3. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah
Sheikh Abdullah completed an MSc in Chemistry at AMU in 1930. Two years later, in October 1932, he became president of the newly formed Muslim Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, which was renamed the National Conference in 1939.
He served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from February 1975 to March 1977, and again from July 1977 until his death in September 1982.
Why it matters: He remains one of the defining political figures of Jammu and Kashmir.
4. Mohammad Hamid Ansari
Hamid Ansari earned his BA and MA in political science at AMU. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1961 and served as ambassador to the UAE, Australia, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1993 to 1995.
He was AMU’s vice-chancellor from 2000 to 2002 and chaired the National Commission for Minorities from 2006 to 2007. He was Vice-President of India for two terms, from August 2007 to August 2017.
Why it matters: Few alumni have served the university as both student and vice-chancellor and then held national office.
5. Lala Amarnath
Lala Amarnath was educated at Aligarh Muslim University, according to standard biographical records, though the exact years are not widely documented. In the 1933 to 1934 home series against England, he scored India’s first Test century, at Bombay.
After Independence he became India’s first Test captain, leading the 1947 to 1948 tour of Australia. Under him, India won its first Test against Pakistan, in Delhi in 1952, and took that series 2 to 1.
Why it matters: Two of Indian cricket’s firsts carry his name.
6. Syed Mushtaq Ali
Mushtaq Ali was educated in Indore and at AMU. In 1936 he scored 112 against England at Old Trafford, the first Test century by an Indian player outside India.
He received the Padma Shri in 1964. Domestic cricket keeps his name alive through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s national T20 competition.
Why it matters: He showed early that Indian batters could score big overseas.
7. Zafar Iqbal
Zafar Iqbal studied civil engineering at AMU while playing hockey, and graduated in 1978. Two years later he was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
He captained India at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, where the team won silver. He later worked as chief national coach and national selector, and received the Padma Shri in 2012.
Why it matters: He is proof of AMU’s long hockey tradition, which also includes several other India players.
8. Naseeruddin Shah
Naseeruddin Shah completed his BA at AMU in 1971 and then trained at the National School of Drama in Delhi. He went on to become one of the central actors of Indian parallel cinema.
He has won National Film Awards for Sparsh (1979), Paar (1984) and, as supporting actor, Iqbal (2006). He received the Padma Shri in 1987 and the Padma Bhushan in 2003.
Why it matters: He is the best-known actor among AMU alumni.
9. Rahi Masoom Raza
Rahi Masoom Raza came to AMU for higher studies, earned a doctorate in Hindustani literature and taught Urdu at the university before moving to Bombay. He wrote novels and poetry in both Urdu and Hindi.
He wrote the screenplay and dialogues for the television series Mahabharat (1988), which became one of the most watched shows in Indian television history.
Why it matters: His work connected Urdu literature with mass television audiences.
10. Asrar ul Haq Majaz
Majaz enrolled for a BA at AMU in 1931, studying philosophy, economics and Urdu, and graduated in 1936. Financial difficulties meant he could not complete his MA.
His poem “Yeh Mera Chaman” is now the university’s tarana, or anthem. He lived from 1911 to 1955.
Why it matters: Every Alig knows his words, even those who have never read his other poetry.
11. Ismat Chughtai
Ismat Chughtai had her early schooling at the Women’s College in Aligarh. After a BA from Isabella Thoburn College in Lucknow in 1940, she returned to complete a BEd at AMU in 1941, despite opposition from her family.
Her short story “Lihaaf” (1942) led to an obscenity trial in Lahore, in which she was cleared. Her novel Tedhi Lakeer (1943) is regarded as her major work. She received the Padma Shri in 1976.
Why it matters: She remains one of the most important voices in Urdu fiction.
12. Dr Shahid Jameel
Shahid Jameel earned his BSc from AMU in 1977, followed by an MSc in chemistry from IIT Kanpur in 1979 and a PhD in biochemistry from Washington State University in 1984.
From 1988 he built the Virology Research Group at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in New Delhi, working there for about 25 years. He later became CEO of the Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance in 2013. He received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 2000.
Why it matters: He is one of India’s best-known virologists and science administrators.
Quick facts: AMU alumni at a glance
| Alumnus | Field | Aligarh connection |
|---|---|---|
| Zakir Husain | Politics, education | MAO College, graduated 1918, MA 1920 |
| Rafi Ahmed Kidwai | Politics | Graduated from MAO College |
| Sheikh Abdullah | Politics | MSc Chemistry, 1930 |
| Hamid Ansari | Diplomacy, politics | BA and MA, political science |
| Lala Amarnath | Cricket | Educated at AMU |
| Syed Mushtaq Ali | Cricket | Educated at AMU |
| Zafar Iqbal | Hockey | Civil engineering, 1978 |
| Naseeruddin Shah | Film, theatre | BA, 1971 |
| Rahi Masoom Raza | Literature, television | Doctorate, later taught Urdu |
| Majaz | Poetry | BA, 1931 to 1936 |
| Ismat Chughtai | Fiction | BEd, 1941 |
| Shahid Jameel | Science | BSc, 1977 |
The list could easily be longer. Other well-known names linked to Aligarh include filmmaker Muzaffar Ali and hockey players such as Joginder Singh and Inam-ur Rahman. Readers can find more profiles in our Listicles and Infotainment sections.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the most famous alumni of AMU?
Well-known AMU alumni include former President Zakir Husain, former Vice-President Hamid Ansari, cricketer Lala Amarnath, hockey Olympian Zafar Iqbal, actor Naseeruddin Shah and writer Ismat Chughtai.
Which President of India studied at Aligarh?
Dr Zakir Husain, India’s third President, studied at MAO College in Aligarh from 1913 and later served as AMU’s vice-chancellor from 1948.
Did any Indian cricket captain study at AMU?
Yes. Lala Amarnath, who scored India’s first Test century in 1933 and was independent India’s first Test captain, was educated at AMU.
Which Bollywood actor is an AMU alumnus?
Naseeruddin Shah is the best-known example. He completed a BA at AMU in 1971 before training at the National School of Drama.
Sources: List of AMU alumni (Wikipedia), Zakir Husain (Wikipedia), Hamid Ansari (Wikipedia), Zafar Iqbal (Wikipedia).
