Talat Ahmad

Doctor
Talat Ahmad
FNA FASc FNASc
14th Chairman of Governing body of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 November 2021
Preceded byProf.Ashok Sahni
20th Vice-chancellor of University of Kashmir
In office
6 August 2018 – 20 May 2022
Chancellor
Preceded byKhurshid Iqbal Andrabi
Succeeded byNilofer Khan[1]
14th Vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia
In office
15 May 2014 – 6 August 2018
ChancellorNajma Heptulla
Preceded byNajeeb Jung
Succeeded byNajma Akhtar[2]
18th Vice-chancellor of University of Kashmir
In office
1 June 2011 – 14 May 2014
Preceded byProfessor Riyaz Punjabi
Succeeded byKhurshid Iqbal Andrabi
Personal details
Born (1955-12-23) 23 December 1955 (age 68)
Giridih, Bihar, India
(present-day Jharkhand, India)
SpouseNasrin Sedghi
Children3
Residence(s)Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Alma materJawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
Aligarh Muslim University
ProfessionGeologist

Talat Ahmad (born 23 December 1955) is an Indian Earth Scientist, former Professor at the Department of Geology, University of Delhi and served as Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Senior Scientist.[3] He served as Chairman of Governing body which oversees Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun from 1 November 2021 (full charge from 1 June 2022) onwards and served the office till 31 October 2027.[4] Previously, he commenced his second stint as Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir on 6 August 2018 and served the office till 20 May 2022.[5] Before that, he served as Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, he resigned from the post a few months short of his full term.[6] He was shortlisted by a committee constituted by the governor to shortlist a panel for the post.[7] He had earlier taken over as Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir from Professor Riyaz Punjabi on 1 June 2011 and served there until the year 2014.[8] Prior to this, he was teaching Geology at the University of Delhi.[9]

Ahmad was selected to serve a second term as Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir after he was selected by Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Narinder Nath Vohra in his capacity as chancellor of the State University.[10] He was handed over charge by Professor Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi who had been serving as officiating Vice-Chancellor since October 2017 after his tenure was over.

During his first tenure, Ahmad was recommended for the position of Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir by a search committee headed by a former member of the Planning Commission, Prof. Abid Hussain, former Indian ambassador to the US, and comprising Professor G. K. Chadha, CEO, South Asian University and former Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Prof. Seyed E. Hasnain, an eminent scientist and former Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad.[11]

Ahmad is the first vice chancellor to serve a second term and the second vice chancellor to be appointed from outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the past two decades. Jalees Ahmad Khan Tareen was the first vice-chancellor from outside the state who ran the office from 2001 to 2004.[12]

  1. ^ "Prof Nilofar Khan appointed as first woman V-C of Kashmir University". Hindustan Times. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ^ MuslimMirror (18 April 2019). "Najma Akhtar is the new Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia , thanks to RSS". Muslim Mirror. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  3. ^ "INSA :: Fellow Detail". insajournal.in. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Governing Body". www.wihg.res.in. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Prof Talat Ahmad takes over as Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University". Daily Greater Kashmir. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  6. ^ "President accepts Talat Ahmad's resignation as Jamia Millia VC". News by Careers360. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  7. ^ "New KU VC: Search committee to interact with shortlisted candidates today". Daily Greater Kashmir. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Prof Talat takes over as VC KU". Greater Kashmir. GKNN. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  9. ^ "University of Delhi Faculty Member's Profile". Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  10. ^ "EDUCATION Prof. Talat Ahmed appointed new VC for KU, Manoj Dhar for JU". Free Press Kashmir. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  11. ^ DU Professor Appointed as New VC of Kashmir University, retrieved 29 January 2013
  12. ^ "DU professor is Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor". Indian Express. Express News Service. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2013.