125th birth anniversary of Dr Zakir Husain celebrated
Jamia Millia Islamia today celebrated 125th Birth Anniversary of Late Dr Zakir Husain, a recipient of Bharat Ratna, 3rd President of the country and 3rd Vice Chancellor of the JMI by organising a prayer meet at his mausoleum located on the university campus.
Jamia Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Mehtab Alam, officials of the university and some family members of Dr Zakir Husain attended the function.
In her message to the Jamia fraternity on Dr Zakir Husain’s birth anniversary JMI Vice Chancellor Prof Najma Akhtar said: “His great services and noble contributions to this university are inestimable. An educationist par excellence, he raised the stature of JMI by virtue of intensity of his rare vision, remarkable conviction and profound interest in the welfare of the university, community and nation.”
On the occasion of his 125th Birth Anniversary, we deem it our noble duty to remember him with veneration, and pay our deep respect to him, Prof. Akhtar said.
Dr Zakir Husain’s birthday is celebrated every year.
On his 128th Birth anniversary Jamia Vice Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif, Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Officials of the university, students and family members of Dr. Zakir Husain attended the prayer meet.
Born on February 8, 1897, Zakir Husain studied at Etawah School, obtained MA from Aligarh Muslim University. He stayed in Germany from September 1922 to February 1926 to do his PhD in Economics from the University of Berlin, under the supervision of Professor Werner Sombart, which was approved “summa cum laude” in 1926.
Along with his colleagues in Germany, Dr. Abid Husain and Mohammad Mujeeb, Zakir Husain came to Jamia in 1926. He was Vice Chancellor of Jamia for 22 years (1926-48).
It was his vision that held Jamia together at a time of great financial and ideological crisis and he took leadership in creating the ‘Life Members of Jamia,’ who pledged 20 years of service to Jamia.
Dr Zakir Husain’s career was marked by a deep commitment to education and its pivotal role in nation-building.
He left Jamia in 1948 to help Aligarh Muslim University as its Vice Chancellor. He went on to become the Governor of Bihar, Vice President of India and the President of India.
Dr Zakir Husain passed away on May 3, 1969, the first Indian President to die in office. His presidency was marked by his erudition, commitment to the principles of democracy, and deep-seated belief in the power of education.
Dr Zakir Husain was not only an eminent Indian politician but also an educationist and intellectual whose impact transcended political boundaries. His profound contributions to education and his vision for a more egalitarian and educated India continues to inspire Indians, including Jamia students and alumni.
Dr Zakir Husain is an early architect of Jamia which today is a leading education centre of India with students coming to study here from other parts of the world.
Jamia is a much sought after Central University given its very high national and international ranking. Notably, in the NIRF Rankings – 2024, JMI secured 3rd rank in the University Category’ for the third consecutive year and has been accredited with the highest grade of ‘A++’ by the NAAC, Ministry of Education.
