Farrukhabad is the home of many famous national personalities like Dr. Zakir Hussain, Khurshed Alam Khan, Salman Khurshid, Mahadevi Verma and Renu Khator who all made the nation proud with their contribution to the prosperity of Indian politics and arts.
Dr. Zakir Hussain
Dr. Zakir Hussain the third President of Independent India is from Farrukhabad. Dr. Zakir Hussain was born in 1897 at Kaimganj. He grew up in Farrukhabad along with his two sisters and six brothers. He was the first Muslim President in India and one of the notable members in the Indian Freedom Movement. He also served as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia and was also the co-founder of the movement. In 1963 Dr. Zakir Hussain was awarded the India most prestigious “Bharat Ratna”. He served as the vice president of India from 1962 to 1967 and was the Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962. Till his death, in 1969, he served as the President of India.
Khurshed Alam Khan
Khurshed Alam Khan was a great Indian politician and also the senior political leader of Indian National Congress. He was born in 1919 at Pitaura village in Farrukhabad, where he grew up and had his early education. He served as the Governor of Karnataka from 1989 till 1991 and he was also the External Affairs Minister in Indian Government. He is closely associated with Jamia Milia Islamia.
Salman Khurshid
Salman Khurshid, an Indian politician, was born in Farrukhabad city and he served as the Cabinet Minister for External Affairs from 2012 till 2014 and he also served as the minster of Law and Justice from 2011 till 2012 for the government of India. He is one of the senior politicians in Indian National Congress party. He also functioned as the President of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee two times. Salman Khurshid is a lawyer and a good writer and stage actor, he authored the popular play “Sons of Babur” which was staged at Delhi Red Fort. Salman Khurshid is the grandson of Dr. Zakir Hussain, the third President of India who was also from Farrukhabad. In 2014, Parliament election Salman Khurshid stood from Farrukhabad constituency which he lost.
Mahadevi Verma
Mahadevi Verma was born in 1907 in Farrukhabad city. She was popularly called as “Modern Meera” as she was one of the exceptional Indian poet, an educationist and a women activist. She is one of the conspicuous poets at “Hindi Kavi sammelans”. Her poem collections include Neehar, Rashmi, Neeraja, Sandhyageet, Deepshikha and Agnirekha. She also has passion for paintings. Mahadevi Verma was honoured with many prestigious awards like Sekseriya Puraskar in 1934, Padma Bhushan in 1956, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1979, Jnanpith award in 1982 and Padma Vibhushan in 1988.
Renu Khator
Renu Khator was born in Farrukhabad in 1955 and is the University of Houston System chancellor and the President of Houston University.
Dr. Zakir Hussain the third President of Independent India is from Farrukhabad. Dr. Zakir Hussain was born in 1897 at Kaimganj. He grew up in Farrukhabad along with his two sisters and six brothers. He was the first Muslim President in India and one of the notable members in the Indian Freedom Movement. He also served as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia and was also the co-founder of the movement. In 1963 Dr. Zakir Hussain was awarded the India most prestigious “Bharat Ratna”. He served as the vice president of India from 1962 to 1967 and was the Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962. Till his death, in 1969, he served as the President of India.