Prof. Orus Ilyas of the Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and research scholar Umrah Viqar presented their research at the 36th European Mustelid Colloquium, held alongside the Białowieża Ecology Conference in Białowieża, Poland.
Prof. Ilyas presented a paper titled “The Underappreciated Apex: Reviewing the Ecological Role and Conservation Status of the Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula) Across the Himalayan and East Asian Bioregions”, examining the species’ ecological significance and conservation status across the Himalayan and East Asian regions.
Umrah Viqar presented her research on “Ecological Insight into the Yellow-throated Martens, Martes flavigula: Habitat Use and Dietary Pattern in the Reserved Forest of Ranikhet Kumaon, Himalayas”, focusing on the species’ habitat use and dietary patterns in the Himalayan region.
The presentations highlighted the ecological importance of the yellow-throated marten and the need for a better understanding of its ecology, distribution and conservation challenges.
Prof. Ilyas received financial assistance from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) to participate in the conference, while Umrah Viqar received support from the organisers.
source: http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / Home> Educational News> University News / by iednewsdesk /October 16th, 2026
Atif Syed tells Booked how his new book recovers Aligarh’s overlooked past. The account places AMU within a longer history of battles, migration and heritage.
Aligarh Beyond AMU: Atif Syed on the Forgotten History of a City That Outlasted Empires
For many people, Aligarh is inseparable from Aligarh Muslim University and the Aligarh movement led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. But the city’s history stretches across centuries, encompassing successive rulers, military campaigns, French families, forgotten neighbourhoods and monuments that remain largely outside the public imagination.
In a conversation with Marya on Booked, Atif Syed, author of Aligarh: The City That Outlasted Empires, discusses his attempt to recover these overlooked narratives and place them within a larger account of the city.
The project began as a personal curiosity. Born in Aligarh but having left relatively early, Syed wanted to understand more about the city beyond its familiar identity. As he researched, he found that much of the existing narrative concentrated on the more recent past, leaving earlier chapters comparatively unexplored.
Among the discoveries that surprised him were the French families who lived in Aligarh for generations. One of them, George Peche, learnt Persian and Urdu and became an Urdu poet. Syed also describes the historical accounts of visitors, residences, gardens and neighbourhoods that reveal a more cosmopolitan and layered past than is commonly associated with the city.
The story reaches back much further. Syed discusses the settlement’s earlier identity as Koil or Kol, the conquest associated with Qutb al-Din Aibak, and the detailed accounts preserved by Persian historians. He also examines the 1857 uprising in Aligarh and the Battle of 1803, when British forces fought the Marathas and their French allies.
For Syed, the city’s geography is central to understanding its history. Located along routes connecting larger centres such as Agra and Delhi, Aligarh repeatedly became entangled in wider struggles for power. Its older town played a significant role long before the development of the Civil Lines area and the expansion of the institution that would become Aligarh Muslim University.
This does not mean diminishing the university’s importance. Syed describes the Aligarh movement as transformative, but argues that focusing exclusively on it risks losing the centuries of people, personalities and events that came before. He compares the movement to the finale of a story: the ending makes more sense when the audience knows the entire plot.
The author also explains his approach to historical research. He says he relied on primary accounts, academic sources, historical journals and documentation, distinguishing traditional accounts from claims grounded in historical evidence. His aim was to make the book readable as a narrative while remaining careful about the sources behind it.
Preserving the city’s physical heritage is another part of the project. Syed says that some historical sites, including tombs and monuments hidden in narrow lanes, are difficult to locate. His book therefore includes a map linked to QR codes that direct readers to the sites. He hopes greater awareness will encourage efforts to conserve monuments that are in poor condition.
Aligarh: The City That Outlasted Empires is thus both a historical exploration and a tribute to the author’s birthplace. Its central proposition is that a city cannot be understood through a single institution, period or identity. To see Aligarh more fully, its lesser-known stories must be brought back into view.
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> Books / by India Today Web Desk / October 16th, 2026
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-ho…
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-horned grasshoppers. The discovery was led by Muzamil Syed Shah and a team of entomologists from Aligarh Muslim University. The new species have been named Conocephalus usmanii, Conocephalus nagariensis, and Conocephalus ganderbali.
Prior to this study, the mountainous region of Kashmir was thought to host only a single species of this genus. The team’s findings suggest that the area’s complex topography, which includes the Western Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range, has fostered a much richer variety of insect life than previously recorded. To find these elusive insects, the researchers trekked through various habitats, including tall meadow grasses, bushes, and deciduous forests, collecting adult specimens during the day.
The researchers used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to distinguish the new species from their known relatives. This allowed them to capture high-resolution images of the stridulatory files, a microscopic row of teeth on the male insect’s wings that acts like a musical comb to produce their characteristic chirping sound. By counting these teeth and measuring the shape of the insects’ body parts, the team was able to prove they had found entirely new branches of the tree of life.
Each of the three new species possesses unique physical blueprints that set them apart. Conocephalus nagariensis, found in the Budgam district, is distinguished by its spindle-shaped appendages (cerci) and a stridulatory file containing exactly 34 teeth. It is dedicated to Dr. Rajendra Nagar, a researcher credited with discovering several other species of katydids across the country, and bears his name.
In contrast, Conocephalus ganderbali, discovered in the Ganderbal region, is notably small and slender, with a musical file of only 28 teeth and a unique V-shaped incision on its underbelly. Its name is derived from the Ganderbal district in Kashmir, the specific locality where the researchers first collected the specimens.
The third species, Conocephalus usmanii, features a flat, elongated plate on its abdomen and a musical file with 36 teeth. It was named in honour of Professor Mohd Kamil Usmani, a scholar who has made significant contributions to the study of Orthoptera (the group of insects including grasshoppers and katydids) in India.
Beyond the three new species, the study also provided new records for other katydids in the region, such as Conocephalus longipennis and C. kwasiphaiensis, which were previously known only in other parts of India. This suggests that Kashmir serves as a vital corridor for insect migration and evolution.
The discovery highlights how much of the natural world remains unexplored, even in well-known geographical areas. The researchers noted that because Kashmir is so biologically diverse yet understudied, many more species likely remain hidden in plain sight within its mountain valleys. The physical type specimens used to describe these new insects have been deposited in the Museum of Zoology at Aligarh Muslim University, where they will serve as a permanent reference for future generations of scientists.
This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by an editor at Research Matters.
The Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), condoled the demise of Dr. Syed Wajid Ali Naqvi, former faculty member of the Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), who passed away Sunday last.
Expressing a deep sense of grief at a condolence meeting of the staff and students of the Faculty of Medicine, the Dean, Prof. Mohammad Khalid conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family. Faculty members and students also prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength and patience to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.
A proud Aligarian, Dr. Naqvi had a close association with AMU spanning several decades. He joined the University as an undergraduate student in 1954 and obtained his B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from AMU. He joined JNMC as a faculty member in 1965 and served until his retirement in 1996.
During his long association with the University, Dr. Naqvi held several academic and administrative responsibilities, including membership of the Academic Council, and served as Warden of Sir Syed Hall and Habib Hall, Acting Provost, Member of the Sports Council and President of the Gymnasium Club.
After his retirement from JNMC, he continued his academic association with medical education, serving on the faculty of ERA’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital and Al Fateh Medical University, Tripoli, Libya.
The faculty members recalled Dr. Naqvi as a link between generations of Aligarians, having himself been an Aligarian and later becoming the father of four Aligarians. His long association with the University, both as a student and teacher, and his contributions to academic and residential life will be remembered with respect and affection.
source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University / Home / by Public Relations Office / August 11th, 2026
Professor Mohammad Mobin, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been conferred the prestigious Professor B.P. Verma Memorial Award for 2025 by the Indian Chemical Society (ICS), recognising his contributions to research, development and innovation in Chemical Sciences and Engineering.
The honour marks a significant achievement in Professor Mobin’s academic career and reflects his sustained efforts towards advancing scientific research and translating innovation into meaningful technological and societal applications.
In a communication dated August 14, 2026, Prof. G. D. Yadav, President, Indian Chemical Society, conveyed the Society’s appreciation of Professor Mobin’s distinguished professional accomplishments, which have enhanced the stature of Chemical Sciences and Engineering and contributed to the advancement of Indian chemical and allied industries and society.
As part of the recognition, Professor Mobin has been invited to deliver the Professor B.P. Verma Memorial Award Endowment Lecture at the 63rd Annual Convention of Chemists (ACC 2026) of the Indian Chemical Society from December 14–16 at Graphic Era University, Dehradun.
Professor Mobin is presently serving as Vice Chancellor of Cluster University of Srinagar on deputation from AMU. His academic and research contributions span Chemical Sciences and Engineering, with particular emphasis on Materials and Corrosion, research innovation and technological development.
The Indian Chemical Society, one of India’s leading professional bodies in chemical sciences, has played a vital role in promoting chemical research, technology and industry while fostering collaboration among academia, research institutions and industry.
The Professor B.P. Verma Memorial Award adds another distinguished recognition to Professor Mobin’s achievements and brings pride to AMU and the wider academic and scientific community.
source: http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / Home> Educational News> University News / by iednewsdesk / August 17th, 2026
AMU-RCA students succeed in cracking prestigious national-level examinations
Aligarh:
Mohd Faisal Khan, Mohd Zaid Masab and Manawwar Hussain, who have been preparing for the civil services examination at the Residential Coaching Academy of the Aligarh Muslim University, have been selected for the post of Revenue Officer, Supply Inspector and Finance Administrative Officer, respectively, through the integrated 69th Combined Competitive Examination conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). The result of this examination was declared on November 26.
Meanwhile, another two students of RCA, Mohd Shams Raza and Habiba Bukhari have succeeded in cracking the 32nd Bihar Judicial Services Examination to become Civil Judge (Junior Division), with a ranking of 30 and 176, respectively at the coveted examination conducted by the BPSC, Patna. The result of the examination was made public on November 28.
AMU Vice Chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon and the Registrar, Mr Mohammad Imran (IPS) have congratulated these students on their selection, adding that their success will serve as an impetus to other students who are preparing for national-level examinations.
The RCA Director, Prof Saghir Ahmad Ansari thanked Mr Mohibullah Ansari (IPS, Bihar Cadre) for sparing his valuable time to provide counselling to the RCA students, taking motivational classes and participating in mock interviews at the Academy conducted by experts.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau / December 03rd, 2024
Dr. Hamid Ashraf, Associate Professor and former Director, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Aligarh Muslim University, has been honoured with the Best Innovation in Diabetes Care award at the annual conference of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI).
The award was presented by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Government of India during a ceremony held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
Dr. Ashraf got the recognition for his ground-breaking research on “Machine Learning Techniques for Diabetes Detection Using Iris and Conjunctival Images.” He said that this innovative approach leverages artificial intelligence to enhance early diagnosis and management of diabetes by analysing subtle ocular changes linked to the disease.
He expressed gratitude to his co-investigators Dr. Nadeem Akhtar and Mr. Ehtesham Sana from Department of Computer Engineering, AMU for their contribution.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News /Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / November 22nd, 2022
Adiba, a research scholar from the Department of Physics, AMU, receiving the Best Poster Award at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025
Aligarh:
Adiba, a research scholar from the Department of Physics, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has brought laurels to the University by winning the Best Poster Award at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, organised by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. The prestigious event was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The conclave, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was supported by thirteen ministries and departments of the Government of India, showcasing the nation’s growing emphasis on innovation and scientific advancement.
Adiba received the award from Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST, in the presence of Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, along with several eminent scientists and leaders of India’s science and technology ecosystem.
Out of over 1,000 entries received from across the country, 100 were shortlisted for presentation at the conclave. From these, only five participants were selected for the top honours.
Adiba’s award-winning poster, titled “Bipolar Resistive Switching in Forming-Free, Flexible, and Transparent ReRAM Devices”, showcased her pioneering research on resistive switching mechanisms for neuromorphic and in-memory computing applications – a key area in next-generation electronic devices.
Expressing her gratitude, Adiba said, “It’s an honour to be recognised for my research on such a prestigious platform graced by leading scientists. I am deeply thankful to my supervisor, Prof. Tufail Ahmad, for his constant guidance and support.”
The achievement marks another proud moment for AMU, underscoring the university’s strong contribution to cutting-edge scientific research and innovation.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards>Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / November 11th, 2025
The Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award on renowned historian and Emeritus Professor Irfan Habib, recognising his exemplary scholarship, mentorship, and decades of dedicated service to the discipline of history and the University.
The award was presented during a special farewell ceremony organised to honour retired faculty members and non-teaching staff whose formal farewells had been pending for years. The initiative, led by Professor Hassan Imam, Chairman and Coordinator of the Department, marked a significant moment of acknowledgment and collective appreciation.
Across various sessions, the Department paid tribute to several retired professors, including Prof Tariq Ahmed, Prof Roohi Abida Ahmed, Prof Gulfishan Khan, Prof Mohammad Afzal Khan, and Prof Ali Athar, along with 25 non-teaching staff members.
On October 11, 2025, a dedicated ceremony celebrated distinguished historians such as Prof S.P. Verma, Prof Pushpa Prasad, Prof Shireen Moosvi, Prof S. Jabir Raza, Prof S.L.H. Moini, Prof Ishtiaq Ahmad Zilli, Prof K.A.S.M. Ishrat Alam, among others, acknowledging their remarkable academic contributions and institutional service.
Dr Lubna Irfan conducted the programme, while Dr Sana Aziz delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating the collaborative efforts that made the series of farewell events a success.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / October 16th, 2025
Prof Mohd Gulrez with Prof AR Kidwai, Prof Tariq Chahtari, Prof Siraj Ajmali and others releasing the book of Prof Zia ur Rahman
Aligarh :
Professor Mohammad Gulrez, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University released “Armughan-e-Tehqeeq”, a book written by noted Urdu writer and critic, Professor Ziaur Rehman Siddiqui, Department of Urdu, Aligarh Muslim University.
Prof AR Kidwai, Director, Centre for Quranic Studies, AMU, Professor Tariq Chhatari, Professor Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Professor Syed Sirajuddin Ajmali and Mr. Tahir H. Pathan were present on the occasion.
Professor Ziaur Rehman Siddiqui has published 20 books, including the History of Urdu Literature, Urdu-Hindi Dictionary and translation of Ruskin Bond’s stories in Urdu, etc.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Review Article> Book Review>Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / March 06th, 2024
