The inspiration behind Dr Zakir Hussain’s dream of basic education was Gandhiji. The deep sense of respect and love that he had for Gandhiji can be judged by the following words he said soon after being elected the president:
“By choosing me the President, the country has honoured a teacher. About 47 years ago, I had pledged that I would dedicate a majority of my years to national education. I had started my social life under the guidance of Gandhiji. He inspired me and showed me the way. I have now been given a new chance to serve. I will strive to lead my people through the path shown by Gandhiji.”
Dr Zakir Hussain was born on 8 February 1897 in Hyderabad. He took over as the President of India in 1967 after Dr S. Radhakrishnan. Like his predecessor, Dr Zakir Hussain also kept the honour of the post. His appointment as the president reiterated that India is a secular country.
Dr Hussain was a teacher by profession. In 1937, when popular governments came up in the states, Gandhiji wanted that these governments should try to improve the level of education of their citizens. He wanted that children be given an education that would help in their mental and physical growth. Gandhiji was against the idea that education should be restricted within the school syllabus. He wanted the children to get educated through practical lessons rather than theory. This is what he called fundamental education. So he formed a committee. The work of the committee was to formulate a syllabus for basic education.
Dr Hussain made the report with great dedication. The report received lavish praise. This report was different from conventional ones. Gandhiji also liked the report and supported Dr Hussain.
He was impressed by Dr Hussain’s capability. So Gandhiji formed the Hindustani Talimi Sangh (National Committee on Basic Education) in 1937 that was to work on the lines of Dr Hussain’s report. Dr Hussain was appointed the chairman of the committee.
Dr Hussain was a descendant of the Afridi Pathans of Afghanistan. Some families of the tribe had migrated to India and settled in the Farrokhabad district of Uttar Pradesh. A majority of the people were soldiers and some were also landowners and farmers. One of the families of the tribe was that of Fida Hussain into which was born Zakir Hussain. Fida Hussain left for Hyderabad and started practising law. Zakir Hussain’s early education took place in Hyderabad.
After the death of his parents, he went to Itawa to seek education and there he came in contact with a Sufi saint. This chance meeting evoked a sense of respect for every religion in the mind of young Hussain. After finishing matriculation, he went to Aligarh for further studies. It was when he was studying MA that Mahatma Gandhi beckoned students to leave State-supported institutions. Dr Zakir Hussain left college and laid the foundation of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). He worked in JMI for a few years and then went to Germany for further studies. He obtained a doctorate in economics from Berlin University.
After returning from Germany, he worked to improve the condition of JMI at the behest of Gandhiji and Pt Nehru. JMI shifted base from Aligarh to Delhi. He remained Vice-Chancellor of JMI for 22 years. During his years at Aligarh, he displayed such simplicity, austerity and economy that he did not have any peon or clerk to help him out with the office work. He carried out all the work himself because the financial condition of JMI was not good. At first he drew a salary of Rs 300 per month, but when he saw that JMI could not bear this expense, he himself made a cut in his salary and worked at Rs 150 per month. During his tenure at JMI, he displayed his sacrificial spirit and selflessness and did not let the institution become a centre of communal politics.
Whatever work Dr Hussain did, he left his indelible mark on it. In 1948, Dr Hussain became the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. In 1952, he entered the Rajya Sabha. In 1957, when he was made the Governor of Bihar, he won the hearts of the people by his sympathy, wit, discipline and extrovert nature. In 1956-58 he served on the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Between 1962 and 1967, he served as the Vice President of India and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He never discriminated between the ruling party or the opposition, nor did he let the ruling party take any advantage. After the fourth general elections when the presidential candidate was to be chosen, everyone believed that the obvious choice would be Dr Zakir Hussain. However, due to opposition the candidate had to be chosen through the ballot. But Dr Zakir Hussain emerged a clear winner. On 13 May 1967, he was appointed the President of India. The world, particularly Germany, welcomed his presidency.
Dr Hussain had a great sense of humour and had the knack of getting work done from his colleagues. Once a child had come to school wearing a dirty cap. He washed the cap for the child and taught the child a lesson in cleanliness. Once some windowpanes were so dirty that they could not be cleaned, so he broke them. He had a servant who had the habit of getting up late in the morning. One day, Dr Hussain threw a bucket of water over him and said, “Sir, have your bath. The water is ready. I have brought your morning tea. Do wake up or it will turn cold.” From that day onwards, the servant used to always get up on time.
Dr Zakir Hussain loved flowers, different types of stones, jewellery and paintings. Dr Hussain also wrote a few books. In recognition of Zakir Hussain’s contributions, he was conferred the Bharat Ratna.