Zakir Husain, (born Feb. 8, 1897, Hyderabad, India—died May 3, 1969, New Delhi), Indian statesman, the first Muslim to hold the largely ceremonial position of president of India. His fostering of secularism was criticized by some Muslim activists.
Husain responded to the nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi’s appeal to Indian youth to shun state-supported institutions; he helped found the Muslim National University in Aligarh (later moved to New Delhi) and served as its vice-chancellor from 1926 to 1948. At Gandhi’s invitation, he also became chairman of the National Committee on Basic Education, established in 1937 to design a Gandhian syllabus for schools.
In 1948 Husain became vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, and four years later he entered the upper house of the national Parliament. In 1956–58 he served on the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He was appointed governor of Bihar state in 1957 and was elected vice president of India in 1962. As the official Congress Party candidate, he was elected president of India in 1967 and served until his death.
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India
India , country that occupies the greater part of South Asia. It is a constitutional republic consisting of 29 states, each with a substantial degree of control over its own affairs; 6 less fully empowered union territories; and the Delhi national capital territory, which includes New Delhi, India’s capital. With roughly… -
Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi , Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India. As such, he came to be considered the father of his country.… -
AligarhAligarh , city, western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It lies at the southern edge of the Upper Ganges-Yamuna Doab, about 65 miles (100 km) southeast of Delhi and some 25 miles (40 km) southwest of the Ganges (Ganga) River.… -
UNESCOUNESCO , specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that was outlined in a constitution signed November 16, 1945. The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture. The agency’s permanent…
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