Search Indian Maps, Pincodes, Local Info and more...
Dr Zakir Hussain
Dr. Zakir Hussain was born on February 1897. He was elected as the 3rd President of the country and remained at this rank from 13th May 1967 till his death on 3rd May 1969. He was also the first Muslim President of India. He was highly intellect and highly educated. His political career also included being the Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962 and also, he served the nation as the Vice President from 1962 to 1967.
He is also the founder of Jamia Milia Islamia. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1963, the country’s highest civilian award.
Early Life
Hyderabad is the birth place of Zakir Hussain and later his family moved to Karimganj from Hyderabad where Zakir Hussain spent his childhood. At the tender age of ten, Zakir Hussain lost his father Fida Hussain Khan while at the age of fourteen, his mother also died. He completed his education from Islamia High School in Etawah and then continued his education from Anglo-Muhammadan Oriental College that is now named as Aligarh Muslim University. He also was the student leader at this college. In 1926, he got the Doctorate of Economics from Berlin University.
Family
Zakir Hussain had six brothers and he was the third child of his parents Fida Hussain Khan and Naznin Begum. His father was a lawyer by profession. His wife’s name was Shah Jahan Begum whom he married at an age of 18 in 1915. His family and relatives were also actively involved in Indian Politics. Salman Khurshid who is the grandson of Zakir Hussain worked as the Foreign Minister of the country for the Congress Party. One of his relatives who migrated from Pakistan to India after partition was Dr Mahmud Hussain who served as the Education Minister in Pakistan and later as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka while his nephew Anwar Hussain was a TV anchor of Pakistan and also was Dr Mahmud Hussain’s eldest son. He also worked as the Managing director of the state media in Pakistan.
Career
At the young age of 23, he was part of the group of teachers and students who together contributed in the formation of National Muslim University in Aligarh that was formed on 29th October 1920 which later was moved to Karol Bagh in Delhi in 1925 which was then further moved to Jami Nagar in New Delhi on 1st March 1935 and the university was also renamed to Jamia Milia Islamia. Later to complete his PhD in Economics, he shifted to Germany. He completed his PhD from Fredrick William University in Berlin. He also worked on collecting the poems of the famous Urdu Poet Mirza Assadullah Khan who is also known as “Ghalib”.
In 1927, when Jamia Milia Islamia was on the verge of being shutting down, Dr Zakir Hussain returned to India as the head of Jamia Milia Islamia. He remained on this position in Jamia Milia Islamia for almost twenty one years.
After the independence of India, he was elected as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University that was going through tough times since many of its students and teachers were supporters in the partition movement and also participated in creating Pakistan. After he successfully completed his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, he was selected to be the part of Upper House of the Parliament of India in 1956 and later, he was elected to be the Governor of Bihar in 1957 and hence, he had to vacate his position in Upper House of Parliament.
He remained the Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962 and later, he was selected to be the second Vice President of the country from 1962 to year 1967. On 13th May 1967, he was selected to be the President of the Country.
On 3rd May 1969, Dr. Zakir Hussain took his last breathe in his office while serving as the India’s first Muslim President.
Other Positions Held
1967–72 | Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
1972–74 | Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
1974–75 | Cabinet Minister, Public Health & Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
1975–76 | Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
1977–78 | Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of Maharashtra |
1979–1980 | Leader of the Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly |
1982–85 | Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Government of Maharashtra |
1983–85 | Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
1986–1988 | Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha |
1986–88 | Chairman, Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha; Member, Business Advisory Committee, Rajya Sabha |
1991–1996 | Chairman, House Committee, Lok Sabha |
8 November 2004 – 23 June 2007 | Governor of Rajasthan |
Photo Gallery