Dr. Shahabuddin Nuramahamad Pathan is a scientist who has distinguished himself as an educationist, researcher and social worker. He was born on 4th July 1949, in a small remote village in the drought-prone area of Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra. His father, an illiterate mason, and mother struggled to feed their six children,with two meals in a day being a luxury for them. It is the encouragement he received from his teachers, fellow villagers and professors from all castes and creeds that helped him to rise to the position of the Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious Nagpur University. He was the first member of the Muslim community to hold such a position in the history of Maharashtra. Dr. S. N. Pathan started his career in the Department of Botany, in P.V.P. College Pravaranagar, and later became Principal of the esteemed Government Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai. He was subsequently elevated to the prestigious position of Director of Higher Education, Maharashtra State, in 1999, where he served for six long years.