Created by Ekuftle
Last edited October 21, 2022


Zameer Uddin Shah
38th Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University
In office
17 May 2012 – 17 May 2017
ChancellorMohammed Burhanuddin
Preceded byProf. P. K. Abdul Aziz
Succeeded byProf. Tariq Mansoor
Vice Chief of Army Staff (Personnel & Systems)
In office
1 October 2006 – 31 August 2008
PresidentA.P.J Abdul Kalam
Preceded byGurditar Singh
Succeeded byManbir Singh Dadwal
Personal details
Born (1948-08-15) 15 August 1948 (age 77)
Bahraich, United Provinces, India
RelationsNaseeruddin Shah (brother)
Alma materNational Defence Academy (B.Sc.)
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
University of Madras, Chennai (M.Sc.)
Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore (M.Phil.)
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Army
Years of service1968–2008
Rank Lieutenant General
UnitRegiment of Artillery
Battles/wars1971 Indo-Pakistani War

Lieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah, PVSM, SM, VSM is a retired senior General of the Indian Army. He last served as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Personnel & Systems), Indian Army. After retirement, he served for some time as an administrative member on the bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.[1]

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Zameer Uddin Shah was born on 15 August 1948 in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, India. An alumnus of St Joseph's College, Nainital, he is the brother of noted Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah. General Shah holds a Master of Science degree in Defence Science from the University of Madras and a Master of Philosophy degree from the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya University, Indore.[2]

Military career[edit | edit source]

Shah attended the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune. He was commissioned with the 185 Light Regiment (Camel Pack) on 9 June 1968. He is also commanded 170 Medium Regiment (Veer Rajputs). Shah was later the Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery. He was also the Indian military attaché to Saudi Arabia.[3] He had led the Army during the Gujarat riots of 2002.[4]

Vice-Chancellor of AMU[edit | edit source]

Lt Gen Zameeruddin Shah was the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 2012–17.[5]

Controversies[edit | edit source]

Gen Shah was quoted by the media as saying that there would be "four times more boys" in Maulana Azad Library if undergraduate girl students were allowed in. He later claimed that his comments were stretched out of the proportion.[6]

Lt. Gen Shah also attributed the backwardness of Muslims to keeping their women "enslaved" and not working during Ramzan.[7]

The HRD Ministry has responded to the Lt. Gen Shah's comment with Minister Smriti Irani saying, "AMU VC's reported remark not only hurts as a woman but also agitates". Irani termed the remark an "insult to daughters". The Ministry also sought a response from the university.[8]

The Allahabad High Court had issued a notice over reports of the university denying a section of students access to its central library calling it a case of gender-based bias, the court also issued a notice to Lt. Gen Shah. The Court directed that adequate measures must be taken so that girls can come to the library.[9]

He stoked another controversy aftermath the Maulana Azad Library issues by banning The Times of India at the university campus which reported about the library issue at the first hand.[10][11]

Lt. Gen Shah is also embroiled in a controversy on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor. The Supreme Court has issued notice on petition challenging his appointment.[12]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Shah, Zameer Uddin (2018). The Sarkari Mussalman. Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

  • Information from the Government of India website [1]
  • Article from Times of India [2]
  • Article from Indian Daily News and Analysis [3]
  • Article about General Z.U.Shah by his younger brother Naseeruddin [4]
Academic offices
Preceded by
P. K. Abdul Aziz
Vice-Chancellor of AMU
2012-2017
Succeeded by
Tariq Mansoor