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Hamid Ansari Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1 April 1937

Age85 Years

BirthplaceDelhi, British India

ProfessionCivil Servant, Diplomat, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSalma Ansari

FamilyFather - Mohammad Abdul Aziz Ansari; Mother - Aasiya Begum; Children - 2 sons and 1 daughter (Nuriya Ansari)

Hamid Ansari Biography

Mohammad Hamid Ansari is an Indian diplomat, academic and politician who served two terms as Vice President of India. His long public service career spans

Early life and background

Mohammad Hamid Ansari was born on 1 April 1937 in British India. He grew up in a family with roots in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and spent his early years in what is listed as Calcutta and Delhi in different accounts. He studied at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, completing a BA (Hons) and followed it with an MA in Political Science.

Career

Ansari entered the Indian Foreign Service in 1961 and built a lengthy diplomatic career with postings across the Middle East, Europe and beyond. Early assignments included service in Baghdad, Rabat, Jeddah and Brussels. He was appointed Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 1976 to 1979 and later served as Chief of Protocol to the Government of India from 1980 to 1985.

From 1985 to 1989 Ansari was High Commissioner to Australia. He then returned to the region in successive ambassadorial roles: Afghanistan (1989–1990) and Iran (1990–1992). He represented India as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1993 to 1995, and served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1995 to 1999.

After his foreign-service career, Ansari moved into academic and policy roles. He was a visiting professor at the Centre for West Asian and African Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University from December 1999 to May 2000 and later a visiting professor at the Academy for Third World Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia (2003–2005). He served as Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 2000 to 2002 and was a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation between 2002 and 2006.

During the mid-2000s he held several advisory and statutory positions: Co-Chairman of the India–UK Round Table, member of the National Security Advisory Board, chairman of an Advisory Committee for Oil Diplomacy at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and chair of the Fifth Statutory National Commission for Minorities (March 2006–July 2007).

In August 2007 Ansari began his tenure as the thirteenth Vice President of India and ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He was re-elected to the office on 11 August 2012 and served until 10 August 2017, completing two consecutive terms.

Public profile

Ansari has been recognised for scholarly engagement with the Middle East and for his published work on the region and on Indian public affairs. His books include an edited volume on Iran, and collections of essays and writings on West Asia and contemporary India published between 2005 and 2016.

Official honours include the Padma Shri in 1984 and several honorary doctorates from international universities in Turkey, Morocco and Armenia awarded between 2011 and 2017.

Over the years Ansari's public role brought him into political debate at times. The record lists several contentious moments noted during his public service, including critical reactions to remarks he made, decisions taken in his capacity as Rajya Sabha chairman, and questions around protocol at public events. In 2022 he publicly described media and political accusations against him as falsehoods.

Personal life

Hamid Ansari is married to Salma Ansari and the couple have three children, including a daughter named Nuriya Ansari. He is identified as Muslim by faith. His stated interests include reading and writing. Physically, records list his height at approximately 168 cm (5'6") and weight around 60 kg (132 lbs). His eye colour is recorded as black and his hair as white.

Latest updates

In recent years Ansari has continued to be referenced in public discourse related to his long career in diplomacy and public office. His published works and engagement in academic and policy forums remain part of his post-official profile.
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Recent Work

Iran Today: Twenty Five Years After the Islamic Revolution (Editor)

Edited volume on Iran

2005
Traveling Through Conflict: Essays on the Politics of West Asia

Collection of essays

2008
Teasing Questions: Exploring Disconnects in Contemporary India

Collection of essays and commentary

2013
Citizen and Society: Selected Writings

Selected writings on society and public affairs

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined Indian Foreign Service in 1961 with postings in Baghdad, Rabat, Jeddah and Brussels
  2. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (1976–1979)
  3. Chief of Protocol to Government of India (1980–1985)
  4. High Commissioner to Australia (1985–1989)
  5. Ambassador to Afghanistan (1989–1990) and Iran (1990–1992)
  6. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York (1993–1995)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Hamid Ansari born?

1 April 1937

What is Hamid Ansari known for?

Civil Servant, Diplomat, Politician

What is Hamid Ansari’s marital status?

Married

Who is Hamid Ansari married to?

Salma Ansari