JMI marks 57th death anniversary of former President Zakir Husain
Synopsis
Jamia Millia Islamia marked 57 years since the passing of Zakir Husain — India's first Muslim President and the university's founding Vice Chancellor — with floral tributes and prayers at his on-campus mausoleum. The commemoration coincided with a high-profile visit by Nepal's Purbanchal University, which called JMI a benchmark in quality assurance and digital governance.
Key Takeaways
JMI commemorated the 57th death anniversary of former President Zakir Husain at his mausoleum on the university campus.
Vice Chancellor Mazhar Asif led officials, students, and Husain's family members in offering floral tributes and holding a special prayer meeting.
Zakir Husain was India's third President and first Muslim to hold the office; he co-founded JMI and served as its Vice Chancellor for over two decades.
JMI also hosted a delegation from Purbanchal University, Nepal for a capacity-building programme on quality assurance, accreditation, and digital governance.
Purbanchal University's team leader described JMI as a benchmark institution and expressed interest in learning about AI-enabled academic practices.
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) commemorated the 57th death anniversary of Zakir Husain — former President of India and the university's former Chancellor and Vice Chancellor — late last week, with officials, students, and family members gathering at his mausoleum on the New Delhi campus to pay their respects, the university confirmed on Monday, 5 May 2025.
Tributes at the Mausoleum
JMI Vice Chancellor Mazhar Asif, accompanied by university officials, non-teaching staff, students, and family members of the late statesman, visited Zakir Husain's mausoleum located within the university campus to offer floral tributes. A special prayer meeting was also held at the site in his memory, according to an official statement.
Who Was Zakir Husain
Zakir Husain served as the third President of India from 1967 until his death in 1969, making him the first Muslim to hold the office. He was a co-founder of Jamia Millia Islamia and served as its Vice Chancellor for over two decades, cementing a legacy that the institution continues to honour annually. His mausoleum on the JMI campus remains a symbol of his enduring connection to the university he helped shape.
Nepal Delegation Visit
Separately, JMI recently hosted a high-level delegation from Purbanchal University in Nepal for a capacity-building and institutional exposure programme focused on Quality Assurance and Accreditation, governance systems, and best practices in higher education. The visit was organised in line with the quality assurance framework of the University Grants Commission in Nepal, supporting Purbanchal University's ongoing academic and administrative reforms, an official statement noted.
The delegation comprised senior academic leaders, examination officials, and administrators. Professor Ushvinder Kaur Popli, Dean of International Relations at JMI, welcomed the group and highlighted the university's legacy, academic excellence, and commitment to regional collaboration.
Professor Tanuja, Dean of Academic Affairs, presented an overview of JMI's academic structure and research-oriented growth, while Professor Ahteshamul Haque, Controller of Examinations, outlined the university's large-scale, technology-driven admission and examination systems, emphasising efficiency, transparency, and digital integration.
Rafat Parveen, Director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), presented JMI's quality assurance framework, covering accreditation processes, stakeholder feedback systems, and continuous improvement strategies.
Purbanchal University's Response
The team leader of the Purbanchal University delegation, Professor Prashant Kumar Lal, described JMI as a
Point of View
Citing JMI as a quality benchmark, adds a layer of soft-power significance that the university's leadership would do well to amplify in its international outreach strategy.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Zakir Husain and what is his connection to JMI?
Zakir Husain was the third President of India and the country's first Muslim head of state, serving from 1967 until his death in 1969. He was a co-founder of Jamia Millia Islamia and served as its Vice Chancellor for over two decades; his mausoleum is located on the JMI campus in New Delhi.
How did JMI mark the 57th death anniversary of Zakir Husain?
JMI Vice Chancellor Mazhar Asif, along with university officials, students, non-teaching staff, and family members of Zakir Husain, visited his mausoleum on campus to offer floral tributes. A special prayer meeting was also held at the mausoleum in his memory.
Why did Purbanchal University visit JMI?
A high-level delegation from Purbanchal University in Nepal visited JMI for a capacity-building and institutional exposure programme on Quality Assurance and Accreditation, governance systems, and best practices in higher education. The visit was aligned with Nepal's University Grants Commission quality assurance framework.
What did the Purbanchal University delegation say about JMI?
Team leader Professor Prashant Kumar Lal described JMI as a benchmark institution in quality assurance, accreditation, examination systems, and digital governance. He also expressed interest in learning about JMI's AI-enabled academic practices.
Which JMI officials participated in the Nepal delegation programme?
Professor Ushvinder Kaur Popli (Dean of International Relations), Professor Tanuja (Dean of Academic Affairs), Professor Ahteshamul Haque (Controller of Examinations), and Rafat Parveen (IQAC Director) all made presentations to the visiting Purbanchal University delegation.
