West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday remembered India’s former president Dr Zakir Hussain on his 121st birth anniversary.
Banrejee took to Twitter saying, “Remembering former President Zakir Husain on his birth anniversary”.
Remembering former President Zakir Husain on his birth anniversary
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 8, 2018
Zakir Hussain was the country’s first Muslim president and the third president from May 13, 1967 till his death May 3, 1969. Husain was the first Indian President to die in office. He is buried along with his wife (who died some years later) on the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.
He previously served as Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962 and as Vice President of India from 1962 to 1967. He was also the co-founder of Jamia Millia Islamia University, serving as its Vice Chancellor from 1928.
Under Dr Husain, Jamia became closely associated with the Indian freedom movement.
In 1963, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.