Professor Mohammad Sultan passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 93 in Okhla, according to his son, Rafay Sultan.
The namaz-e-janaza will be held at the main mosque of Jamia Millia Islamia at 9:15 pm on Tuesday. He will be laid to rest at the Jamia cemetery.
The Professor was born in Meerut and studied at Jamia Primary School in Karol Bagh. His lifelong association with Jamia continued when he rejoined the institution after its campus shifted to its present location in Okhla.
After completing his Master’s degree in Economics, he was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in 1960 to pursue higher studies at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Following his studies abroad, he returned to India and served Jamia Millia Islamia as a faculty member in the Department of Economics until his retirement.
Over the years, he held several key positions at the university, including Provost, Controller of Examinations, Secretary of the Teachers’ Association, Head of Department, Dean, and Member of the Executive Council, said his son Rafay.
“Education of girls from disadvantaged sections of the community was a cause very close to his heart,” Rafay said. “He remained dedicated to it throughout his life. Even after retiring from Jamia, he devoted himself entirely to Madrasatul Banat and Milat Girls’ Public School, both founded by his maternal uncle, Abdur Razzaq, a life member of Jamia,” he said.
He is survived by his four children: Rafay Sultan, Akif Sultan, Saba Sultan, and Asif Sultan.
The Professor witnessed Jamia’s transformation firsthand, from its early days in Karol Bagh to its relocation in Okhla. He also saw the university evolve from a college to a deemed university under the UGC in 1962, and later to a Central University in 1988.
He played a pivotal role in accelerating the university’s growth by inviting prominent figures, establishing new departments, and raising the institution’s profile to a national level, wrote Syed Afzal Ali Shah.
According to long-time observers, it was during his tenure that distinguished guests, including then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, then-President Dr Zakir Hussain, as well as numerous ministers and senior bureaucrats, visited the university.
Syed Afzal Ali Shah also wrote that the Professor’s contributions to the university’s development would be remembered for many years to come.
After separating from Aligarh Muslim University in 1920, Jamia was relocated to Karol Bagh in Delhi. This could be done thanks to help given by Hakeem Ajmal Khan, a prominent figure and one of the founding members of the university.
Hakeem Ajmal Khan, a renowned freedom fighter, medical practitioner, and educationist, played a crucial role in the development of Jamia, helping establish its foundation as an independent institution committed to providing modern education while also promoting Indian culture and nationalism.
Five years after, Jamia was moved from its original location in Karol Bagh to a larger, more spacious campus in Okhla, situated on the banks of the Yamuna River in 1925. Since its relocation to Okhla, Jamia has grown by leaps and bounds. From its early days as a small institution to its current status as one of India’s top universities, Jamia has continually expanded both in size and academic scope.
Today, Jamia offers over 140 courses across various disciplines, attracting students from both India and abroad. Its alumni, spread across the globe, hold top positions in their respective fields and continue to contribute significantly to nation-building.
