One of the most respected person in the country who is considered to be a successful person in the political arena is the Assamese child Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, a visionary who went from a state like Assam and adorned the post of president of the country, took various steps to transform India into a strong nation despite various challenges. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s contribution to converting Assam into a strong state was also undeniable.
Biography of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
| Name | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed[1] |
| Date of Birth | May 13,1905 |
| Place of Birth | Delhi |
| Father’s Name | Col. Zalnur Ali Ahmed |
| Mother’s Name | Sahibzadi Ruqaiyya Sultan |
| Education | 1/ Government Higher Secondary School, Gonda District, Uttar Pradesh 2/ St. Stephen’s College, Delhi 3/ St Catherine’s College, Cambridge |
| Award | Doctorate Title from Pristina University in Yugoslavia in1975. |
| Death | February 11,1977 |
Early Life of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed is the first Assamese child to hold the highest constitutional remark in the country. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who is considered as a successful man in the political arena, was born on May 13,1905 in Delhi, India.
His father’s name was Col. Zalnur Ali Ahmed and his mother’s name was Sahibzadi Ruqaiyya Sultan. Fakhruddin Ahmed’s father Col. Zalnur Ali Ahmed had his ancestral home in Kasarihat near Golaghat. Importantly, Col. Zalnur Ali Ahmed was the first Assamese person to get a degree in M D (Doctor of Medicine). Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s mother Sahibzadi Ruqaiyya Sultan was the daughter of the Nawab of Lahore. The family of Ahmed is known as Parsi-Pariya family in the social history of Assam. Because their ancestors worked to translate letters written in Persian by the Mughals to the rulers of Delhi in the Middle Ages.
Born into a noble family, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed started his formal education at the Government Higher Secondary School in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. After passing the entrance exam from this school, he studied at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi under Punjab University. He later studied at St Catherine’s College in Cambridge, England, in 1923 with the intention of pursuing higher education and a dream of being appointed to the Indian Administrative Service. But unfortunately, due to some physical difficulties he could not appear for the Indian Administrative Service examination, but in England he finished law education with distinction. Importantly, while in England, Ahmed was able to expand his mental and intellectual thinking in the company of learned people like Lord Butler. In addition, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed got close to Jawaharlal Nehru in 1925 while he was in England. Nehru’s proximity played a strong role in Ahmed’s politically one-on-one ideals because Nehru’s political ideology influenced Ahmed.
Also Read : Biography of Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
Achievements
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who returned to India after completing his law education in 1928, began his professional career in the Punjab (Lahore) High Court as an associate of the then famous lawyer Mohammad Shafi Ullah. It may be recalled that as a person involved in the law, Ahmed was also attracted to the policy ideology of the Congress, which played an important role in the launch of India’s independence movement, in parallel with the continuation of contacts with various Congress leaders including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, for which Ahmed took over as a member of the National Congress of India in 1931.
Ahmed’s father Col. Zalnur Ali Ahmed came to Assam in 1932. During this period the freedom movement was strongly organized in different parts of India as well as in Assam. Along with his father, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who came to Assam, also participated strongly in this freedom struggle. Importantly, at the time of World War II, in 1939, he had to spend a year in jail for nationalist activities. Later, after returning from attending the historic Bombay Session, in 1942, the British again arrested Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and sent him to jail for nearly three years.
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who possessed a lot of talent and leadership qualities, was first elected to the Assam Assembly in 1935. He subsequently served as finance, revenue and labour minister in 1938 in the cabinet of Gopinath Bordoloi.
Ahmed proved his administrative and political skills in his first term after being elected as minister. He raised Assam Agricultural income tax bill in the assembly. It may be recalled that this bill was the first assembly in the whole of India to introduce a direct tax on tea gardens in Assam.
In 1946, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed held the post of Advocate General of Assam and served in this post till 1952. He also served as a member of the All India Congress Committee from 1947 to 1974 after serving as a member of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee from 1936.
Ahmed became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1953 after India gained independence in 1947. He represented India at the General Conference held in Jatipunj while serving as a member of Rajya Sabha. He later won as a Congress candidate from North Kamrup and Barpeta’s Jana constituencies and also adorned the cabinet in1957-62,1962-65. Importantly, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed from Barpeta constituency was elected to the Lok Sabha twice in1967 and 1971 and has efficiently served as a minister of several important portfolios in the cabinet. While serving as union minister, Ahmed laid special emphasis on the interests of development in Assam in parallel with the whole of India.
Conclusion
On August 24,1974, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was sworn in as the fifth President of India and the second President of the Muslim community. But it is a matter of regret that Ahmed died on February 11,1977 at the age of 71 after suffering from a heart attack while serving as President.
Importantly, in parallel with being a skilled and sensible politician, Ahmed showed his mettle as a tennis and golfer. He also served as president of Assam Cricket Association and Assam Football Association and was also elected vice president of Assam Sports Council. Importantly, he also served as president of the All India Cricket Association and also served as a member of the Delhi Golf Club and the Delhi Gymkhana Club.
Fakhruddin Ahmed’s fair, transparent political ideals and views, secular attitude, continue to affect everyone even today. It may be recalled that the fifth medical college of Assam set up in Barpeta was set to keep Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s memory alive in this world.
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s political integrity, values, strong personality, ideals will always remain alive among the new generation. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who has been hailed as a lawyer, politician, as a man of great personality, is always relevant to his philosophy even today because of his intellectual approach, hard work and humble behaviour.
FAQ
1/ Who is Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed?
Ans: Fakhruddin Ahmed was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as the 5th president of India from 1974 to 1977.
2/ Who was the President of India when the state of emergency was imposed in India for the third time in 1975?
Ans: Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
3/ What is the name of the first privileged Assam child to have the highest constitutional post in the country?
Ans: Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
4/ When and where was Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed born?
Ans: He was born on May 13,1905 in Delhi, India.
5/ What was the portfolio of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed when he became a minister in the Assam government in1938?
Ans: Finance, Revenue and Labour.
6/ When was Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed elected president of India?
Ans: Ahmed was elected as the fifth President of India on August 24,1974.
7/ When did Fakhruddin Ahmed died?
Ans: He died on February 11,1977 at the age of 71 after suffering from a heart attack while serving as President.
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