India’s third President held office for less than two years — the shortest presidential tenure in the country’s history. He was also the first to die in office. This article covers Dr. Zakir Husain’s life and presidency.
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Dr. Zakir Husain
India’s shortest presidential tenure, and the first to end in office
1926
Leads Jamia Millia Islamia
Becomes Vice-Chancellor of the institution he helped found in 1920, serving until 1948.
1963
Awarded the Bharat Ratna
Receives India’s highest civilian honour years before reaching the Presidency, a rare sequence.
13 May 1967
Becomes 3rd President
Arrives after five years as Vice President, becoming India’s first Muslim President.
3 May 1969
Dies in office
Becomes the first Indian President to die mid-term, triggering Article 65 for the first time.
A Different Route
Husain reached the Presidency through education and institution-building, not the freedom movement’s political leadership or the Constituent Assembly.
Must Know
- Dr. Zakir Husain was India’s third President, serving from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969.
- He was the first Muslim to hold the office of President of India.
- He was also the first President to die in office, and served the shortest presidential tenure of any Indian President.
- Born on 8 February 1897 in Hyderabad, he earned a PhD in Economics from the University of Berlin in 1926.
- Before becoming President, he served as India’s Vice President from 1962 to 1967.
Good to Know
- Husain was a founding member of the Jamia Millia Islamia, established in 1920. He served as its Vice-Chancellor from 1926 to 1948.
- He later served as Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, from 1948 to 1956.
- He received the Padma Vibhushan in 1954, and the Bharat Ratna in 1963 — both awarded before he became President.
- He died of a heart attack at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 3 May 1969. He was buried on the Jamia Millia Islamia campus, the institution he had spent decades building.
Test Yourself
Great to Know
- Husain’s death in office was untested constitutional ground. It triggered Article 65 for the first time, under which the Vice President, V.V. Giri, took over as Acting President.
- His career shows a different route to the Presidency than most of his predecessors. He rose through education and institution-building, not through the freedom movement’s political leadership or the Constituent Assembly.
- He held India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, four years before he became Vice President. This is a rare sequence — most Presidents receive it after, or during, their term of office.
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