Najma Heptulla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Najma Heptulla
Heptulla in 2016
16th Governor of Manipur
In office 24 July 2019 – 10 August 2021
Chief Minister	Nongthombam Biren Singh
Preceded by	Padmanabha Acharya (Addl. Charge)
Succeeded by	Ganga Prasad (Addl. Charge)
In office 26 June 2018 – 26 June 2019
Chief Minister	Nongthombam Biren Singh
Preceded by	Jagdish Mukhi (Addl. Charge)
Succeeded by	Padmanabha Acharya (Addl. Charge)
In office 21 August 2016 – 31 May 2018
Chief Minister	Okram Ibobi Singh Nongthombam Biren Singh
Preceded by	V. Shanmuganathan
Succeeded by	Jagdish Mukhi (Addl. Charge)
11th Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia
In office 26 May 2017 – 13 March 2023
Vice Chancellor	Talat Ahmad Najma Akhtar
Preceded by	Mohammad Ahmed Zaki
Succeeded by	Mufaddal Saifuddin
Minister of Minority Affairs
In office 26 May 2014 – 12 July 2016
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi
Preceded by	K. Rahman Khan
Succeeded by	Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
7th Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
In office 25 January 1985 – 20 January 1986
Preceded by	Shyamlal Yadav
Succeeded by	M. M. Jacob
In office 11 November 1988 – 10 June 2004
Preceded by	Pratibha Patil
Succeeded by	K. Rahman Khan
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office 3 April 2012 – 20 August 2016
Constituency	Madhya Pradesh
In office 2004–2010
Constituency	Rajasthan
In office 1980–2004
Constituency	Maharashtra
Personal details
Born	(1940-04-13) 13 April 1940 (age 85) Bhopal, Bhopal State, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India)
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party (since 2004)
Other political affiliations	Indian National Congress (1960s–2004)
Spouse	Akbar Ali Akhtar Heptulla ​ ​ (m. 1966; died 2007)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Vikram University

Najma Akbar Ali Heptulla (born April 13, 1940) is an experienced Indian politician who has held many important roles in the Indian government. She served as the Governor of Manipur from 2016 to 2021.

For many years, she was a member of the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of India's Parliament. She was the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for sixteen years. She also served as the Minister of Minority Affairs in the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

From 2017 to 2023, she was the Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, a major university in Delhi. She is also related to famous people, including being a grand-niece of the freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and a second cousin of actor Aamir Khan.

Early Life and Education

Najma Heptulla was born on April 13, 1940, in Bhopal, which is now in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Her family has roots in Gujarat and the Arabian Peninsula.

She was a bright student and attended Motilal Vigyan Mahavidyalaya in Bhopal for her schooling. She later went to Vikram University in Ujjain. There, she earned a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in Zoology. Her research was focused on the anatomy of the heart.

In 1966, she married Akbar Ali Akhtar Heptulla. They had three daughters. Her husband, who passed away in 2007, was a manpower consultant and helped start the Patriot newspaper.

A Long Career in Politics

Najma Heptulla's political journey began with the Indian National Congress party. She worked her way up through the party and held several important positions.

Working with the Congress Party

In 1980, Heptulla was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Maharashtra. The Rajya Sabha is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, where members discuss and make laws for the country. She was re-elected three more times as a Congress member, serving until 2004.

During this time, she became the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. This is a very important job, similar to a vice-principal in a school, who helps run the meetings. She held this position for a total of sixteen years.

Joining the BJP and Becoming a Minister

In 2004, Heptulla decided to leave the Congress party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She said she left because of disagreements with the Congress party's leadership.

As a member of the BJP, she continued to serve in the Rajya Sabha, this time representing the states of Rajasthan and later Madhya Pradesh. In 2014, when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he appointed Heptulla as the Minister of Minority Affairs. In this role, she worked to support the rights and development of minority communities in India. She served as a minister until July 2016.

Governor of Manipur

In 2016, Heptulla was appointed as the 16th Governor of Manipur, a state in northeastern India. A governor is the head of a state, representing the President of India. She held this position until August 2021, working with the state government to ensure its smooth functioning.

Work with International Groups

Besides her work in India, Najma Heptulla was also active on the world stage. She was chosen to lead the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an organization that promotes India's culture around the world.

She was also very involved with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization of parliaments from different countries. In 1999, she was elected as its President and later became its Honorary President. She also worked with the United Nations Development Programme as a human development ambassador.

Photo Controversy

A book published by the ICCR while Heptulla was its head included a photograph of her as a young girl with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The caption said the photo was taken after her graduation. However, people pointed out that Maulana Azad had passed away in February 1958, while Heptulla graduated in May 1958. This meant the photo and its caption were incorrect. The book was later re-released without the photograph.

Awards and Honours

•  Russia:
  • Recipient of the Order of Friendship (2019)

Awards

• Recipient of the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for the year 2013