Zakir Hussain was born on 24 February, 1897. In his childhood, he was taught at home. When a boy of four years, four months and four days old, he was able to recite the Bismillah (the name of god, the Merciful, the Compassionate), and some verses from the Quran. Then he joined the fifth class in the Islamia High School at Etawah.
Zakir lost his father at the age of ten. In 1911, when he was eleven years old, he delivered a speech in the school on ‘the life of the student’, which was appreciated by his teachers and the students. In 1913, he joined the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College (now Aligarh Muslim University). His carrier as a student has many facets.
He was a good orator He always stood first in all his examinations. He contributed articles to Urdu periodicals as a student. He received 1917 a prize of Rs. 100 for an essay on ‘Muslim Education in India’, and two years later, the ‘Iqbal Medal’ and also a Government Merit Scholarship. He translated Plato’s Republic.
Zakir took up science in the Intermediate with the intention to study medicine. But due to his sudden illness, he lost the chance and got admitted to the B.Sc. class in the Lucknow Christian College. Later, he changed over to arts, and finally did his M.A. in Economics. But he acquired fame as an educator, not as an economist. He obtained a doctorate in Germany.
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In 1924, Zakir Hussian made a tour of Denmark and Sweden. Which in Sweden, he wrote an article on Mahatma Gandhi, which was translated by Mr. Peterson, a Swede, and published in a newspaper. The payment was handsome enough to pay off his old debts and make his passage to Germany possible.
Zakir Hussian heard about Gandhiji, but did not yet meet him. Now on his return to India, he met Gandhiji at his Sabarmati Ashram in Ahemdabad. After Zakir was served food by Kasturba Gandhi, he said to Gandhiji that he wanted to raise funds for the Jamia Millia. Gandhiji said that he would go round with his begging bowl along with him for the cause. And Zakir Hussian’s achievement in building up the Jamia Millia is an important event in his life. In 1928, he became the head of a community of teachers in Jamia.
Gandhiji’s personality had been a powerful influence in moulding the life of Zakir Hussian. He was a religious mind- e man, but not an orthodox. He prayed in the morning and at night. He read Quran and also fasted regularly. All his life he had cherished the Islamic standards as a true Muslim. His ideal of education was broad. He wanted to give a completely secular character to basic education with a syllabus including a study of all religions. Although he acted sometimes as a channel between the Muslim League and the Congress, he kept himself out of politics.
Zakir was against the demand of Pakistan.
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After the partition of India, Zakir Hussian arrived at India and declared him to be an evacuee. In November, 1948 Zakir Hussian took charge of the post of Vice- Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. When he was in Europe in 1957, he was appointed Governor of Bihar. In 1962, he was elected Vice-President of India; and on 13 May, 1967, he was elected President of the Indian Republic.
Zakir Hussiamdied on 3 May, 1969.