Syed Hamid

Syed Hamid was born in 1920 in Faizabad. He studied at Aligarh Muslim University where he completed master’s degrees in both English and Persian. Soon after, he joined the Indian Administrative Service and went on to serve in important positions in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

In 1976, he became the first chairman of the Staff Selection Commission. Later, in 1980, he retired from the civil services and returned to Aligarh Muslim University as its Vice Chancellor. He held the post for five years and worked to restore the institution’s academic and cultural standing.

Syed Hamid also played an important role in the field of education in Delhi. In 1993, he established Hamdard Public School and contributed to the Hamdard Education Society. He was also associated with Jamia Hamdard as Chancellor, supporting its growth as a center of higher learning.

Alongside his administrative career, he was a poet and critic. His works include ghazals, nazms, and critical essays, published in collections such as Aligarh Tahreek, Fanoos Ki Gardish, Faryad, and Lamhaat. His poetry often reflected sensitivity, sorrow, and a thoughtful engagement with society.

One of his couplets captures his emotional style:

“Ek do zakhm nahin jism hai saara chhalni

Dard bechara pareshan hai kahan se nikle.”

Syed Hamid passed away in December 2014 in New Delhi. He is remembered both as a reformer in education and as a poet whose writings carried depth and reflection.