Once an expanse of wilderness on the Delhi ridge covered with dense forest, a 200-acre patch of land on the rugged red sandstone hill has undergone a remarkable transformation with the Jamia Hamdard campus coming up on it.
The sprawling lush green campus now pulsates with the energy and enthusiasm of students coming from every corner of India, and beyond.
In 2023 alone, 72 students from the Northeast joined various courses the institution runs. The university’s appeal extends beyond the national borders, attracting scholars from around the world.
Currently, students from 27 different countries are pursuing their studies at Hamdard. Under the visionary leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor (Dr) Mohammad Afsar Alam, the university has become a melting pot of regional, linguistic, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity, embodying a truly global character.
Established in 1989, Jamia Hamdard stands as a testament to the vision of Hakeem Abdul Hameed, a revered figure whose life and work were dedicated to the promotion of education, health, and social services. “Ever since I joined Hamdard on June 19, 2021, my sole endeavour has been to turn Jamia into a world-class institution of Hakeem’s dream. Providing quality education, matching international standards, to our students, promotion of good research, innovation, skills and entrepreneurship development are part of the mission we are pursuing at Hamdard. We may count it among our achievements that during the three years I have been at the helm here, the placement of our students has increased manifold. And, for the first time in its history, Hamdard has received NAC A+ rating, and boasts inclusion among top 50 universities in NRF ranking and among top 100 in all categories,” said Dr Alam.
Seated in his elegantly designed plush Vice Chancellor’s office in Hamdard Nagar, Dr Alam shared with The Pioneer the remarkable journey of the university’s evolution into a world-class centre of learning and research. Over the years, the university has blossomed into a center of excellence for study and research in Unani system of medicine, alongside its programmes in science, pharmacy, management, computer science, and legal education, among others.
“Our programmes enjoy high credibility both within the country and internationally,” Dr Alam remarked with a sense of pride. “This is evidenced by the fact that many of our alumni are now esteemed faculty members at prestigious institutions in the US, UK, and around the globe. Their success stories are a testament to the quality education and training they received at Hamdard,” he said.
Over a period of last ten years, Hamdard, earlier conceived as a seat of higher learning in Unani Medicine, Islamic Studies, Biosciences, Pharmacy, Nursing and other subjects, has emerged as a known institution of higher learning with distinct and focused academic programmes. Graduate programme in Information Technology and Computer Applications and Post-graduate programmes in Information Technology, Computer Applications, Business Management, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy have been started in the last few years. Hamdard offers post-graduate and doctoral programmes in several disciplines for which advanced facilities are available.
Though Hamdard is a minority institution, its admission policy makes for diversity and inclusiveness, and gender equality is an article of faith with the university. “Fifty-six per cent of our faculty members are women, and female students outnumber their male counterparts in our undergraduate programmes,” the VC said proudly.
The university offers vocational courses specifically designed to empower aspirants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, providing them with valuable professional training. “Muslim girls make up 60 per cent of the enrollments in the nursing course, reflecting the institution’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowering women through education and skill development,” he said.
“Hamdard’s admission policy follows Central Government norms. We admit only those who have cleared NIT, JEE and CUET,” he said, adding pointedly that “this rules out any kind of favouritism.”
