Raziuddin Siddiqui

Dr. Muhammad Raziuddin Siddiqui (1908–1998) was an eminent scientist, scholar and an educationist of Pakistan. He had been the vice-chancellor of four Pakistani universities and the first VC of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.

Life

Raziuddin Siddiqui was born on January 8, 1908 in Hyderabad- Deccan, India.

He was one of the pioneering students who attended the newly established Osmania University. After passing the "Rashidia Exams" in 1918, Siddiqui completed his matriculation from Osmania University in 1921 and earned the B.A. degree with distinction. He was then awarded a scholarship from the Government of the State of Hyderabad to pursue higher studies in England where he completed his M.A degree in (mathematics) from the University of Cambridge in 1928. Then he proceeded further to work for his Ph.D at the University of Berlin in Germany. In those days renowned scientist Albert Einstein was also teaching at the same university. He completed his Ph.D under the supervision of the renowned physicist and Nobel Laureate Werner Karl Heisenberg in 1930. Later, he did his post doctoral work at the University of Paris, France.

After returning to his homeland, Siddiqui joined Osmania University, Hyderabad, as an Associate Professor. It is said that the philosopher Muhammad Iqbal requested him to write down a book on the theory of relativity but Iqbal had died before the completion of the book. Maulvi Abdul Haq published this title from Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu Delhi.

Siddiqui also served as Vice-Chancellor of Osmania University during 1948-49. Later he migrated to Karachi, Pakistan along with a majority of his family members. In Karachi, he also joined Anjuman-i Tarraqi-i Urdu. He was then simultaneously appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sindh and the University of Peshawar. He was also the first vice-Chancellor of the University of Islamabad, later Quaid-e-Azam University, from 1964 to 1972. He died on January 2, 1998 in Islamabad.

Awards

* "Sitar-e-Imtiaz"
* "Hilal-e-Imtiaz"Amongst his notable children is his daughter, Shirin Tahir-Kheli, who is the Special Assistant to the President of the United States of America, and Senior Director for Democracy, Human Rights and International Operations.

Books

* "Dastan-e-Riazi"
* "Izafiat"
* "Tasawur-e-Zaman-o-Makaan"

External links

* http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/apr25/articles32.htm
* [http://dli.iiit.ac.in/cgi-bin/Browse/scripts/use_scripts/advnew/metainfo.cgi?&barcode=2020050050589 Iqbal Ka Tasawwuf-e-Zaman-o-MakaN at Digital Library of India ]