India's Third President

NAME: Dr. Zakir Hussain



BORN: February 8, 1897

DIED: May 3, 1969


PRESIDENCY: May 13, 1967 to May 3, 1969

An educator, Zakir Hussain was born in Hyderabad . He studied at Islam High School, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, and later at the Anglo-Muhammadan Oriental College (now known as Aligarh Muslim University). He also founded the Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi. After coming back from Germany, where he had gone for higher studies, Hussain became the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia. He held several posts as Chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education, a member of the University Grants Commission and a member of the University Education Commission. Hussain served as the Vice-President from 1962 to 1967 and then went on to grace Rashtrapati Bhavan as the third President. The first President to die while in office, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 and the Bharat Ratna in 1963.

India's Second President

NAME: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

BORN: September 5, 1888

DIED: April 17, 1975


PRESIDENCY: May 13, 1962 to May 13, 1967

Best known as a philosopher, statesman, writer, educationist, humanist and administrator, Radhakrishnan was born in a middle class Hindu family in Tirutani in the then Madras State. Despite being orthodox, his parents had a vision for their son and sent him to Christain missionary schools and colleges, such as Lutheran Mission School, Tirupati; Vellore College, Vellore; and Madras Christian College. He took up Philosophy at the graduation level in Madras University and went on to master the subject. It was because of him that Indian philosophy is today accorded respect in the West. Throughout his glorious career, Radhakrishnan held numerous important academic, cultural and political posts, both in India and abroad, such as Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, Spaulding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics, Oxford University, Leader of the Indian Delegation to UNESCO, Ambassador-Extraord inary and Minister-Plenipoten tiary to the U.S.S.R., etc. He was also showered with notable honorary degrees and distinctions that include Knighthood, Fellow of the British Academy, the Order of Merit and the Bharat Ratna. He has written extensively on philosophical, theological, ethical, educational, social and cultural subjects. Twice the Vice-President of India, Radhakrishnan became the President after Dr. Rajendra Prasad. His birthday is celebrated as Teacher's Day throughout India .