Dr. Zakir Husain was born on 8th February 1897 to Fida Husain Khan and Naznin Begum in Hyderabad, Telangana. When he was 13 years old, he lost both his parents leaving him and his six brothers orphaned.
Dr. Zakir Husain married at the age of 18 to Shah Jahan Begum. They had two daughters. He was educated from Islamia High School Etawah and Anglo Mohammedan Oriental College, Aligarh.
He was a prominent student leader in his college. A great educationist, he was a founder member of Jamia Milia Islamia University in New Delhi and taught there from 1920 to 1922 and thereafter he went to Germany to pursue his PhD. degree in Economics which he got in 1926.
He continued to promote education and in the year 1927 he became head of Jamia Milia Islamia University. He revived the University when it was in financial problems and was facing a closure.
He was a prominent educationist and was involved in important policy decisions promoting work centred education in India. In 1948 he became Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and was nominated to Rajya Sabha in the year 1956.
In the year 1957 he became Governor of Bihar which he remained till 1962. He became Vice President of India in the year 1962 and in the year 1967 he was appointed President of India, becoming the first Muslim to occupy the highest office of the country.
In the year 1963 he was awarded Bharat Ratna the highest National Award.
He breathed his last on 3rd May 1969 while in office and was buried on the campus of Jamia Milia Islamia University alongside his wife. His contribution to education in both pre and post independent India will be remembered for a long time.
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