DR. ZAKIR HUSSAIN
Dr. Zakir Hussain was the third (1967-69) president of
Bharat. He was not only a good politician, but also a great
educationist. Dr. Zakir Hussain was born in Hyderabad
(Deccan) on 9th Feb., 1897. He devoted his whole life for
regeneration of education. By conviction he was secular and
believed in Gandhi’s principles. He followed the noble objects
of nationalism.
After passing matriculation from Etawah (U.P.), he joined
Aligarh Muslim University for higher education. There he
passed M.A. and LL.B. He was a very keen and talented
student. As an accomplished speaker, he won many important
debates. He was also for some time, the vice president of the
students union.
Under Gandhi ji’s influence, he devoted his life to the
nation. Due to his efforts Jamia Milia, was established in Delhi
(now New Delhi) in 1920. With the cooperation of an English
friend, he went to Europe for specialisation and stayed in
Germany for three years. He studied literature and philosophy
in the university of Berlin, Germany. He published many
research papers in Economics, and was awarded the degree of
Ph.D. by the university of Berlin later on, he was awarded
(Honoris causa) the degree of D. Litt. by universities of Berlin,
Cairo (Egypt), Delhi, Kolkata, Aligarh and Allahabad.
Dr. Zakir Hussain had been pledged to education for his
whole. His love for education was full of life. He was vice
chancellor of Jamia Milia for 22 years (1926-1948). He eradicated
the feeling of high and low among the teachers. Under his
leadership Jamia Milia achieved that much of fame, that
Mahatma Gandhi got admitted his son Dev Das in that institution.
There is important mark of Zakir Hussain on whatever has
been done in the field of education from the third of decade of
the 20th century to the date of writing of this book. He was,
from the very beginning the leader of Hindustan Educational
organisation established by Gandhji. For eight years, from
1948–1956, he was vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh. Besides this, he was connected with Basic Education
Committees of different States and University Grants
Commission. From 1956–58, Dr. Zakir Hussain was a member
of U.N.E.S.C.O. (of U.N.O.) and earned many achievements.
In 1937, when provincial (now called states) governments
were formed under Autonomous rule, he was the president of
Basic Education. Whichever, Dr. Zakir Hussain, accepted in
principle, he used to do his best to do accordingly in practical
life. He made sufficient reforms in the scheme of Basic
Education and joined it with handicraft, the object of which was
that after finishing education, the student may be self supporting
and does not run after service.
Dr. Hussain said in Kashi Vidyapith in 1935—“Our country
does not need streams of boiling blood coming out from necks
of young men, but needs the all the year round flowing rivers of
sweat of the brows. Dr. Zakir Hussain believed that politics was
an unnecessary burden on the country.” We need work, silent
and real work. The future of our country can be made or marred
under the farmer’s shaltered cottage, the worker’s roof blackened
with smoke and under the that shed roof of the village
school, and here our future will be decided for centuries to
come. At places like this decisions can be made only of political
conferences and of the day to day disputes of the congress men.
Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru got Dr. Zakir Hussain a member of the
Rajya Sabha in 1948. He was a nominated member of the Rajya
Sabha in 1957 Government of India honoured him with Padam
Vibhushan. In 1957, while was a member of the Rajya Sabha,
he was appointed Rajya Pal (Governor) of Bihar much against
his wishes. He was elected vice president of India in 1962. It
was a matter of honour for our Republic to have educaionists on
both the highest posts. In keeping with the E. generous ideals of
secularism and nationalism, Dr. Zakir Hussain was elected
president of India in 1967. To have an educationist on its
highest post was a great occasion for the country, 1963, government
of Bharat honoured him by conferring ‘Bharat Ratna’.
Zakir Saheb’s hobby was gardening and collection of
coloured stones and pieces of art. Rose was his favourite flower
very few people know Dr. Zakir Hussain as a lover of literature,
art and games. He was not only a lover of literature, but also a
literary person.He earned good fame by writing "SHIKSHA"
a book in Hindi. Dr. Zakir Hussain translated successfully in
English. Plato’s Republic, a book of world fame, Kenans
famous work political, Economy and National Economy, a book
in German. His famous children’s stories are
MURGI,JO AJMER CHALI, SAHEED KI AMMA, UKKAB,etc.
On 3rd May, 1967, Dr. Zakir Hussain died of heart attack.
On his sudden death, the whole country was overwhelmed with
grief. Great educationists and national leaders, while paying
him tributes called him a man basically and an educationist.
Dr. Zakir Hussain considered children as a ray of light in
darkness. He often said, “Our country may progress and the
country be prosperous—for this we should first of all pay
attention to the education of children, we should respect
children and treat them honour and give them proper education
who knows some of them may turn out to be Mahatma Gandhi,
Jawahar Lal Nehru and Ravindra Nath ?”
Addressing the young men and women, Dr. Zakir Hussain
said, dear ones, people, even of this country will oppose you at
every step while you render services to the country, who are
living a comfortable life and are afraid lest the conditions
should change, and they may not be in a position to fill their
purses with the fruits of labours of other persons. But remember
that all of them will get tired and will be out of breath you are
fresh and young. If you have doubts and have no trust, then
believe that number of difficulties are to come in your way.
Therefore make preparations from the very beginning and
develop power. With dirty hands and impure hearts, you will
not be able to take it to its goal.
To conclude of Dr. Zakir Hussain was a living idol of
communal har-mony and secularism. Humanism was his
religion. He was deadly against to making students bookworms,
and had full faith in Basic Education. His different
contributions and experiments in the field of education will be
remembered always. Zakir Saheb used to say, “Education
should not be made self centered. The same should be directed
to moral and soul development.”
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