When was Zakir Husain born?

Zakir Husain was born on 8 February 1897 in Hyderabad.

What positions has Zakir Husain held?

Positions held by Zakir Husain include: President of India (1967–1969); Vice President of India (1962–1967); governor of Bihar (1957–1962).

Where did Zakir Husain study?

Zakir Husain was educated at Aligarh Muslim University, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Allahabad.

India Post, Government of India · GODL-India

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Zakir Husain

जाकिर हुसेन

3rd President of India (1897-1969)

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Zakir Husain Khan (8 February 1897 – 3 May 1969) was an Indian educationist and politician who served as the vice president of India from 1962 to 1967 and president of India from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969.

Quick facts

Born: 8 February 1897 wd
Place of birth: Hyderabad wd
Died: 3 May 1969 wd
Place of death: New Delhi wd
Citizenship: India, British Raj wd
Occupation: politician wd
Education: Aligarh Muslim University, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Allahabad wd

Positions held wd

President of India (13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969)
Vice President of India (13 May 1962 – 12 May 1967)
governor of Bihar (6 July 1957 – 11 May 1962)

Awards wd

Bharat Ratna (1963)
Padma Vibhushan in Public Affairs (1954)

About

Born in Hyderabad in an Afridi Pashtun family, Husain completed his schooling in Etawah and went on to study at the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh and the University of Berlin from where he obtained a doctoral degree in economics. A close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Husain was a founding member of the Jamia Millia Islamia which was established as an independent national university in response to the Non-cooperation movement. He served as the university's vice-chancellor from 1926 to 1948. In 1937, Husain chaired the Basic National Education Committee which framed a new educational policy known as Nai Talim (literally meaning "New Education" in Urdu) which emphasized free and compulsory education in the first language. He was opposed to the policy of separate electorates for Muslims and, in 1946, the Muslim League under Muhammad Ali Jinnah vetoed a proposal by the Indian National Congress to include Husain in the Interim Government of India.

Following Independence and the Partition of India Husain stayed on in India and, in 1948, was appointed Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University which he helped retain as a national institution of higher learning. For his services to education, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 and was made a nominated member of the Indian Parliament during 1952 to 1957. Husain served as Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962 and was elected the Vice President of India in 1962. The following year, he was conferred the Bharat Ratna. He was elected president in 1967, succeeding Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and became the first Muslim to hold the highest constitutional office in India. He was also the…

Questions

When was Zakir Husain born?: Zakir Husain was born on 8 February 1897 in Hyderabad.
What positions has Zakir Husain held?: Positions held by Zakir Husain include: President of India (1967–1969); Vice President of India (1962–1967); governor of Bihar (1957–1962).
Where did Zakir Husain study?: Zakir Husain was educated at Aligarh Muslim University, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Allahabad.

Sources

Last updated 3 November 2026 · facts checked 7 November 2026

Cite this page

"Zakir Husain". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/zakir-husain. Retrieved 7 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Zakir Husain, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: President Zakir Husain 1998 stamp of India (cropped).jpg — India Post, Government of India, GODL-India.

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