Biography of Zakir Hussain

(February 8, 1897 - May 3, 1969)

Zakir Hussain, the former President of India and a great academician, was born in 1897 in Hyderabad. He had his early education in Islamic High School at Etawah, where he was taught the strict Islamic ways of living. Later he had his education at Aligarh.

Inspired by the role of the Ali brothers in the freedom struggle, Zakir Hussain left his teaching job to fight against the British rule. Later, he became the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia at the age of 29. In 1937, he joined Gandhi in propagating the concept of New Education'. Gandhi appointed him to head a national committee, constituted to prepare a scheme of basic education. The recommendations of the committee brought him national recognition. Then Zakir Hussain was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University.

He also served as the Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1960. In 1962, he was appointed as the Vice-President of India. Later, he became the President of India. He passed away in May 1969.