This is a list of notable alumni from the University of Lucknow, featuring members of the University of Lucknow segregated in accordance with their fields of achievement. The individual must have either studied at the university (although they may not necessarily have taken a degree), or worked at the university in an academic capacity. Honorary fellows or those awarded an honorary degree are not included.
The list has been divided into categories indicating the field of activity in which people have become well known. Many of the university's alumni/ae have attained a level of distinction in more than one field. These individuals may appear under two categories. In general, however, an attempt has been made to put individuals in the category with which they are most associated.
Science, engineering and technology Engineering Siddheshwari Prasad Chakravarti (B.Sc., 1924; M.Sc., 1926) – known as the "Father of electronics and telecommunications engineering education in India"; founding Principal of Jabalpur Engineering College and founder of India's first Department of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering
Space science Ritu Karidhal (B.Sc. Physics, 1994; M.Sc. Physics, 1996) – Aerospace scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), known as the "Rocket Woman of India"; Deputy Operations Director of Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), Mission Director of Chandrayaan-2, and a senior contributor to Chandrayaan-3 Anil Bhardwaj (B.Sc., 1985; M.Sc. Physics, 1987) – Indian Astrophysicist and Director of Physical Research Laboratory; Principal Investigator of experiments Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan-2; experiments; recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (2007) and Infosys Prize (2016) Nilamber Pant (B.Sc., 1948; M.Sc. Physics, 1952) – Indian Space scientist, former Vice Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, member of the Space Commission of India, and recipient of the Padma Shri (1984) Hashima Hasan (B.Sc., 1968) – NASA astrophysicist; Program Scientist for NuSTAR and IXPE; former Program Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope S. Ichtiaque RasoolMissiles and Rockets. United States, American Aviation Publications, 1962. Volume 10. Page 17. – Indian-American climatologist; Chief Scientist for Global Change at NASA; senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; co-founder of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
Biological sciences and biotechnology Aindrila Mukhopadhyay (B.Sc., 1993) – Microbiologist and bioengineer; Division Deputy at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Inder Mohan Verma (M.Sc., 1966) – Molecular biologist and gene therapy researcher; former professor at the Salk Institute; member of the National Academy of Sciences Kailas Nath Kaul (M.Sc.Botany, 1928) – Indian botanist; founder and first director of the National Botanical Gardens (now the National Botanical Research Institute), Lucknow; recipient of Padma Bhushan (1977) Dharani Dhar Awasthi (B.Sc. 1943, M.Sc. 1945, Ph.D. 1947) – Indian lichenologist; regarded as the "Father of Indian Lichenology" Vinod Bhakuni (M.Sc., 1984; Ph.D., 1990) Molecular biophysicist; Head of the Molecular and Structural Biology Division at the Central Drug Research Institute; known for contributions to protein folding; recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology Girjesh Govil (B.Sc., 1956) – Molecular biophysicist known for research on semi-empirical quantum chemical theories; Raja Ramanna Professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (1978). Navin Khanna (M.Sc., 1977) – Biotechnology scientist and developer of diagnostic technologies for viral diseases; recipient of the Padma Shri (2020) and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize Shyam Swarup Agarwal (B.Sc., 1958) – Geneticist, immunologist, former Director of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, pioneer of medical genetics and clinical immunology education in India, and recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize Pramod Tandon (B.Sc., 1969; M.Sc., Botany, 1971) – Plant biotechnologist; former Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University; former Project Director for the establishment of Indian Institute of Management, Shillong; and former CEO of Biotech Park; recipient of the Padma Shri (2009)
Chemistry Atul Kumar (M.Sc., 1984; Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1989) – Medicinal chemist; Professor at AcSIR and former Dean of NIPER-Raebareli
Medicine and health sciences Physicians and surgeons This list includes alumni of King George's Medical College who graduated during the period when the college was affiliated with or constituted under Lucknow University. King George's Medical University became an independent university in 2002 Sanduk Ruit (MBBS, 1976) – Nepali ophthalmologist and founder of the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology; internationally recognized for restoring sight through affordable cataract surgery; recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2006), Padma Shri (2018) and Prince Mahidol Award Rajendra Prasad (MBBS 1974; M.D. 1979) – Indian Pulmonologist, former Director of the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, and recipient of the Dr. B. C. Roy Award (2010) Ravi Kant (MBBS, 1977) – Indian Surgeon, former Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, former Vice-Chancellor of King George's Medical University, and recipient of the Padma Shri (2016) Khalid Hameed (MBBS, 1967) – British physician and healthcare administrator; member of the House of Lords, former Chief Executive Officer of Cromwell Hospital, and recipient of the Padma Shri (1992) and Padma Bhushan (2009) Naresh Trehan (MBBS, 1969) – Indian Cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon; founder of Medanta and former founder-director of Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre; recipient of the Padma Shri (1991) and Padma Bhushan (2001)
Medical researchers This category includes biomedical scientists, clinical researchers, and medical academics.
Harish Poptani (B.Sc., 1987; M.Sc. Chemistry, 1989)https://www.linkedin.com/in/harish-poptani-6727ba3 – Professor and Chair of the Centre for Preclinical Imaging, University of Liverpool Raj Kumar (Ph.D. Neuro Ayurveda, 2013) – Neurosurgeon; Director and CEO of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences; founding Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh; former Vice-Chancellor of the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences
Academia and education College and university leadership Mahendra Pal Singh (LL.M., LL.D.) – chancellor of Central University of Haryana, Director of Indian Law Institute, vice-chancellor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (2006-2011) Ratan Shankar Mishra (BSc., 1942; MSc., 1943 dropped-out) – Indian mathematician, vice-chancellor of Lucknow University (1982–1985); Fellow of INSA, IAS, and NASI, and recipient of the Padma Shri (1971) Suraj Prasad Singh – Founder-Director General of Amity Law School, Noida; vice-chancellor of Lucknow University (1995-1997)
Humanities and social sciences Choudhri Mohammed Naim (B.A., 1954; M.A. in Urdu, 1955) – Professor Emeritus of South Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago; scholar of Urdu language and literature Roshan Taqui (Ph.D.) – Historian and author specializing in Lucknow and Awadh studies
Literature, journalism and media Authors and poets Ali Jawad Zaidi (B.A., 1939; LL.B.) – Indian Urdu poet, literary scholar, author, lawyer, and Indian independence activist; author of more than 80 books, including A History of Urdu Literature, Do Adbi School, and Islami Taraqqi Pasandi; recipient of the Padma Shri (1988), Ghalib Award, and Mir Anis Award Ahmed Ali (B.A., 1930; M.A. English, 1931) – Novelist, poet, scholar, diplomat, and pioneer of modern Urdu short fiction; author of Twilight in Delhi, co-founder of the All-India Progressive Writers' Association, Pakistan's first ambassador to China, and recipient of Pakistan's Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1980) Iftikhar Arif (B.A., M.A. Sociology, 1965) – Pakistani Urdu poet, scholar, and literary administrator; former Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters and former Director of the National Language Authority; recipient of Pakistan's highest literary honors, including the Nishan-e-Imtiaz(2023), Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2005), Sitara-e-Imtiaz (1999), and Pride of Performance (1990) Kavi Pradeep (B.A., 1939) – Indian poet, lyricist, and patriot known as Rashtrakavi (National Poet), a title conferred by the Government of India; best known for writing the patriotic anthem Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon and over 1,700 songs. Recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1997) and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1961) Qurratulain Hyder (B.A., M.A. English Literature, 1947) – Indian Urdu novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and academic, widely regarded as the "Grande Dame" of Urdu literature; author of Aag Ka Darya (River of Fire) and recipient of the Jnanpith Award(1989), Sahitya Akademi Award (1967), Padma Shri (1984) and Padma Bhushan (2005) Attia Hosain (B.A., 1933) – Indian-born British novelist, journalist, broadcaster, and short-story writer; author of the acclaimed novel Sunlight on a Broken Column and a pioneering voice in postcolonial and Partition literature Ismat Chughtai (B.A., 1939) – Urdu novelist, short-story writer, filmmaker, and pioneer of modern Urdu literature; recipient of the Padma Shri (1976) and co-winner of the National Film Award and Filmfare Award for Best Story for Garam Hawa
Journalists Seema Mustafa (B.A. Political Science) – Journalist; founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Citizen and President of the Editors Guild of India (2020–present) Manoj Joshi – Journalist, author, and national security analyst; Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Vinod Mehta (B.A.) – Journalist, political commentator, and founding Editor-in-Chief of Outlook Fatima Zakaria (B.A.) – Journalist, former Sunday Editor of The Times of India, educationist, and recipient of the Padma Shri (2006)
Arts and entertainment Fashion and beauty Vartika Singh (B.Sc. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics; M.P.H.) – Model and beauty pageant titleholder; Femina Miss India Grand International 2015, Miss Universe India 2019, and India's representative at the 68th Miss Universe 2019 pageant
Film and television Manohar Shyam Joshi (B.Sc., 1952) – Hindi novelist, journalist and screenwriter, widely regarded as the father of Indian television soap operas; wrote Hum Log and Buniyaad and received the Sahitya Akademi Award. Bina Rai (B.A., 1950, dropped-out) – Actress; recipient of the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Ghunghat (1960). Nivedita Bhattacharya (B.A.) – Film, television and web-series actress known for Saat Phere, Koi Laut Ke Aaya Hai, Bambai Meri Jaan, and The Vaccine War.
Music Anup Jalota (B.A., 1974) – Bhajan and ghazal singer, popularly known as the "Bhajan Samrat"; recipient of the Padma Shri (2012) Amitabh Bhattacharya (B.A. English Literature, 1999) – Lyricist and playback singer; National Film Award recipient Amit Mishra (B.Com.) – Indian playback singer known for his work in Hindi cinema; National Film Award recipient
Animation Bhimsain (Diploma in Fine Arts and Classical Music) – Film director, animator, widely regarded as the "Father of Indian animation"; recipient of 16 National Film Awards
Visual arts Sukumar Bose – Painter and sculptor of the Bengal School tradition; pioneer member of the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS); creator of works housed in Rashtrapati Bhavan and Vatican City; recipient of the Padma Shri (1970)
Theatre and performing arts