# Roohi Zuberi

Roohi Zuberi (born 24 March 1959) is an Indian social worker and women's rights activist. Zuberi has also served as a senior cabinet member at Mumbai University.

## Career

During her university years at Aligarh Muslim University, Zuberi served as district president of the National Students' Union of India. In 1986, she established the Women's Welfare Society (महिला कल्याण समिति) in Northern and Central India, focusing on women's rights and social reform. In 2000, she campaigned for mayor of Aligarh as an Indian National Congress candidate, advocating for reforms including a Muslim matrimonial code emphasizing bride's consent in marriage.
Zuberi serves as president of the Women's Welfare Society in Uttar Pradesh. She is also a member of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee's Executive Committee, appointed in January 2014, and the Minority Cell of the All India Mahila Congress. Through the Women's Welfare Society, she collaborates with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on issues including domestic violence, poverty, and gender inequality.

## Political career history

* Distt. President NSUI, 1972–73
* Secretary of Abdullah Girls College, 1972–73
* Executive Member of Student Union of AMU, 1974–75
* Vice President of Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union, 1980
* President (ad hoc) of Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union, 1982
* Founded Women's Welfare Society, 1986
* District President Mahila Congress, Aligarh, 1992
* General Secretary Mahila Congress, U.P, 1993
* Vice President of the District Congress Committee
* Member of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (5 times)
* Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, 1996–2008
* Congress party Candidate for the post of Mayor (Aligarh), 2001
* General Secretary, UPCC

## Additional positions held

* Ex-Member Railway Board
* Ex-Member Telephone Advisory Board
* Ex-Member Lok Adalat, Aligarh
* Ex-Member District Consumer Forum
* Vice President Akansha Samiti, Formed by District Magistrate

## Awards

* Bhartiya Nari Shakti Award for her role in women empowerment on 29 January 2014 at the Constitutional Club of India, New Delhi
* Rashtriya Gaurav Award, in the field of Social Work by the India International Friendship Society (2014)

## Family background

Roohi Zuberi hails from a prominent family in Marehra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her father, the late Mr. Bashir Mahmood Zuberi (Advocate) (1921-1993), was a notable freedom fighter during the Indian Independence Struggle against British Raj. He was also a social worker, politician, and the Chairman of the Marehra Municipal Board. Throughout his life, he dedicated much of his personal wealth to the development and welfare of the local community. In his honor, the B. M. Zuberi Hospital, a civil government hospital in Marehra, is named after him.
Zuberi is also related to Maulvi Bashir Uddin, who devoted his resources to establishing Islamia College in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, in 1888. This institution aimed to provide educational opportunities similar to those of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College. Uddin was a member of the Indian National Congress, known for wearing Khadi and for publishing the respected paper al-Bashir. Despite being awarded the Padma Shri, he declined to accept it, just as he did with the title of Khan Bahadur. Notably, former President of India Dr. Zakir Husain was a student at Islamia College.
Roohi Zuberi is also the daughter-in-law of Dr Sir Ziauddin Ahmad, a distinguished mathematician and former Parliamentarian. He was a key figure in the Aligarh Movement and served as Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, for three terms, later becoming its Rector.
Additionally, her maternal uncle, Matin Zuberi, was a scholar of international relations. Born in Marehra on July 15, 1930, he earned his Master's degree from Aligarh Muslim University before continuing his studies at St. Anthony's and Balliol Colleges at the University of Oxford. Upon returning to India, he became a senior fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla and joined Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 1978, where he taught until 1995.
As a professor of international politics and disarmament studies at JNU, Professor Zuberi was an influential observer of international nuclear developments. He served on the National Security Advisory Board during three terms (1990–91, 1998–99, and 2000–01) and contributed to the Draft Indian Nuclear Doctrine. He was also part of the Indian delegation to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament and Development and held positions in various prestigious organizations related to defense and international studies.

## Education qualification

Zuberi started her education in her hometown Marehra and thereafter moved to Aligarh for higher education. Her alma mater is Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
* B.A in Political Science from Aligarh Muslim University.
* M.A in Political Science from Aligarh Muslim University
* L.L.B from Aligarh Muslim University

## Personal life and family

Roohi Zuberi is married to Ahmad Zia-ud-din and they have three sons, Md. Zia-ud-din (Rahi), Shahbaz Zia-ud-din, Sheeraz Ahmad and a daughter, Sadaf Ahmad.