Who was the first Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University (then located at Aligarh) in its early years as a nationalist educational institution?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the history of modern Indian education and the national movement. Jamia Millia Islamia was founded in 1920 by nationalist leaders who wanted an institution free from direct colonial control and influence. In its early years, when it was based at Aligarh before shifting to Delhi, Jamia had a distinguished first Chancellor. Knowing who held this position helps students connect educational institutions with key figures of the freedom struggle.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The institution is Jamia Millia Islamia University in its early Aligarh phase.
• The question asks for the name of its first Chancellor.
• The options are Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Hakim Ajmal Khan and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
• We assume awareness that Jamia Millia Islamia emerged from nationalist circles separate from the older Aligarh Muslim University.

Concept / Approach:
Jamia Millia Islamia was founded by a group of Muslim nationalists, including Maulana Mohammad Ali, Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari and Hakim Ajmal Khan, in response to political circumstances after the Non Cooperation Movement and the Khilafat agitation. Hakim Ajmal Khan, a renowned physician and nationalist leader, became the first Chancellor of Jamia. Although Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the founder of the earlier Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College at Aligarh (which later became Aligarh Muslim University), he predated Jamia and was not associated with this newer institution as Chancellor. The other listed personalities made important contributions to the freedom movement but did not serve as Jamia's first Chancellor.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Distinguish between Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University. Jamia was founded in 1920, while AMU evolved from Sir Syed's college founded in the 19th century. Step 2: Recall that Jamia Millia Islamia was established by nationalist leaders who were dissatisfied with institutions seen as too close to colonial authorities. Step 3: Among its founding leaders, Hakim Ajmal Khan is remembered for taking up the role of the first Chancellor. Step 4: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is associated with the founding of the Aligarh movement, not with Jamia Millia Islamia. Step 5: Conclude that Hakim Ajmal Khan was the first Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical notes on Jamia Millia Islamia repeatedly list Hakim Ajmal Khan as its first Chancellor, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari as an early Vice Chancellor and Zakir Husain as one of its most famous later Vice Chancellors. In contrast, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan died before Jamia was founded and so could not have been its Chancellor. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur were important nationalist leaders, but their main work lay in other areas such as non violent mobilisation in the North West Frontier Province and health or social reforms respectively.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan: A leading Pashtun freedom fighter known as Frontier Gandhi, not recorded as Jamia's first Chancellor.
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur: A prominent woman leader and India's first Health Minister, but not the founding Chancellor of Jamia.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Founder of the Aligarh movement and the Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College, not the later Jamia Millia Islamia, and he died before Jamia was created.

Common Pitfalls:
A common source of confusion is the shared location of Aligarh and Jamia in the early period and the similar sounding names of educational institutions. Some students mistakenly assume that because Sir Syed was associated with Aligarh, he must also have been the first Chancellor of any university connected to Aligarh. Others may simply guess a very famous nationalist name without considering chronological and institutional details. Keeping a clear mental distinction between Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University helps prevent such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The first Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University at Aligarh was Hakim Ajmal Khan.