Professor Zakia Ather Siddiqi is a distinguished Indian educationist renowned for her transformative role in advancing women’s education and empowerment. Her career, centred at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been marked by visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and social upliftment.
Born in 1936 in Allahabad, Professor Siddiqi was raised in a family that valued public service and education; her father was an advocate and a Member of the Legislative Assembly. This environment fostered her academic pursuits, which began in Allahabad and Lucknow before she joined the Aligarh Women’s College. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education from AMU and further distinguished herself by obtaining a Master of Science in Education in Guidance and Counselling from Purdue University in the United States.
Professor Siddiqi’s professional journey began as a teacher at the AMU Women’s College, where she steadily rose through the ranks to become its Principal and the Provost of Abdullah Hall. In this capacity, she became a pivotal figure, elevating the institution’s academic standards and creating an environment that nurtured intellectual growth and self-reliance among generations of female students. Her leadership was instrumental in empowering women through education, making her a trailblazer in the field of women’s empowerment.
Her dedication to gender equity did not cease upon retirement. She founded the Centre for Women’s Studies at AMU, institutionalising a formal academic space for research and advocacy on women’s issues. Continuing her work, she assumed the role of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at Aligarh Public School. There, she has spearheaded significant pedagogical reforms, most notably integrating technology into the curriculum. Her forward-thinking approach led the school to national recognition, securing the prestigious Digital India Competition Award on four separate occasions between 2017 and 2024.
Professor Siddiqi was married to the late Professor Ather Siddiqi, a prominent zoologist at AMU whose family was deeply impacted by the Partition of India. She is a mother to a son, Sohail, and a daughter, Taab, whose success as an entrepreneur is seen as a reflection of progress within the community.
Her lifelong service has been recognised with numerous accolades, including the Women’s Icon of the Year Award in 2024, the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Award in 2025, and an honorary Doctorate of Education. These honours affirm Professor Zakia Ather Siddiqi’s enduring legacy as a pioneering educator whose work has left an indelible mark on women’s empowerment and educational innovation in India.