Draft:Prof. Shafi Ali

Mohammad Shafi (1924-2007) was an Indian geographer.

Education

Mohammad Shafi was born on 1 August 1924 in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. He passed the High School examination in 1941 and the Intermediate examination in 1943 from the Uttar Pradesh Board. He attended the University of Allahabad, where he achieved his BA in 1945. He then studied geography at Aligarh Muslim University, where he obtained a Master's degree in Geography.

Shafi received his Ph.D. degree in 1956 from the London School of Economics, where he did his doctoral research under the supervision of Dudley Stamp. His Ph.D. work focused on agricultural geography.

Career

Mohammad Shafi started as a lecturer in the Department of Geography at AMU in 1948, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1951, and in 1957 to Reader. In 1962, Prof. Shafi was promoted to Professor and Head of the Geography Department, a position he held until 1984. He also was Dean of the Faculty of Science at AMU from 1967 to 1970.

Shafi was the Pro-Vice Chancellor of AMU on two occasions, first in 1971 and again from 1974 to 1979, and in 1979-1980, he was the Vice-Chancellor of AMU. He retired from his professorship in 1984, and was awarded emeritate. In 1992, he was appointed as the Pro-Chancellor of AMU, becoming the first Indian academician to hold this position, which he held until 1995.

Shafi was involved in various national and international geographical bodies. He chaired the All India Geography Panel and was a member of the Working Group of the National Commission on Agriculture from 1972 to 1975. He played a significant role in the classification of agro-climatic regions and their potentials, a key area of study that informed agricultural policy in India. He was Vice President of the International Geographical Union from 1984 to 1992.

Association with Aligarh

After obtaining his M.A. in Geography from AMU in 1947, Mohd. Shafi joined the Department of Geography as a lecturer. Despite the socio-political unrest due to the Indian Freedom movement, his focus on studies remained unaffected. In 1956, after earning his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics under the supervision of Prof. Dudley Stamp, he was appointed as a Reader at AMU. His research in Agricultural Geography gained international attention, and AMU’s Geography Department was recognized as a center of excellence under his leadership as Coordinator. His groundbreaking research on the food system of India garnered high international recognition, including accolades from the United Nations.

In 1962, he was promoted to Professor and soon after, he became Chairman of the Department of Geography, a position he held until 1984. He contributed significantly to academic research, publishing 11 books and 130 research papers, and supervising 34 doctoral theses. His service extended to being the Dean of the Faculty of Science and the Provost of Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall. His administrative skills were further recognized when he was appointed Director of the Academic Program from 1972 to 1974, and later as Pro-Vice Chancellor of AMU from 1979 to 1980.

Upon retirement in 1984, he was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus.

Legacy

Professor Mohd. Shafi passed away on 9th December 2007 in Aligarh and was laid to rest in the University Graveyard 'Mintoyee'. His legacy continues through the numerous students he mentored and the substantial body of work he left behind. His contributions to the field of geography and his administrative roles at AMU remain influential.

References

1. https://connectjournals.com/file_html_pdf/314301H_01-1-9.pdf
2. https://www.amu.ac.in/department/geography/list-of-former-chairperson
3. https://dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Year=2001-2001