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Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai

Akhlaq Ur Rehman Kidwai (1 July 1921 – 24 August 2016) was an Indian chemist and politician. He served as Governor of the states of Bihar, West Bengal and Haryana. Also, he worked as Governor (as an additional charge) of the state of Rajasthan. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament, from 1999 to 2004. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.

Early life and education

He was born in 1921 in Baragaon village of Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh to father, late Ashfaqur Rehman Kidwai and mother, late Nasim-un-nisa.[1][2] He was married to the late Jamila Kidwai, and had six children, two sons and four daughters.

He did his schooling from Sherwood College, Nainital and studied BA at Jamia Millia Islamia University, 1940, M.Sc. at University of Illinois, US, 1948 and PhD at Cornell University, US, 1950.[2]

Political and public career

The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai calling on the President of India, Shri K. R. Narayanan at Kolkata

Dr. Kidwai started his professional career as the professor and head of Department of Chemistry and dean of Faculty of Science at Aligarh Muslim University, India. Kidwai then went on to become the chairman of Union Public Service Commission-UPSC, Government of India from 1974 to 1977. He was Governor of Bihar twice, from 1979 to 1985 and 1993 to 1998 and Governor of West Bengal from 1998 to 1999.[1][2]

In addition, he was chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, from 1983 to 1991[2] and has also been the director of the Jammu & Kashmir Bank.[3]

Kidwai was a member of the Rajya Sabha from January 1999 to July 2004. He was the Governor of Haryana from 7 July 2004 to 27 July 2009.[1] After Pratibha Patil's resignation as Governor of Rajasthan in June 2007, he was asked to take over that position as well,[4] serving as Governor of the state until S. K. Singh took office on 6 September 2007.[5]

In addition to his political career, he has been a champion for promoting research and development and elevating the status of women by education and self-reliance. He served as the chairman of the Institute of Marketing and Management, New Delhi and president of Vocational Education Society for Women.[citation needed]

Kidwai served as a member of the following national committees, organizations and institutions:[1]

Awards and honors

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan award to Dr. Akhlaq Ur Rahman Kidwai, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 24, 2011

On January 25, 2011, Kidwai was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.[3] The award was for his contribution towards Public Affairs.[6]

Death

He died on August 24, 2016, in New Delhi after a long illness, aged 95.[7] He was buried at the Jamia Milia Islamia graveyard.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Biographical information on Kidwai Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, legislativebodiesinindia.gov.in
  2. ^ a b c d Biographical information on Kidwai Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, governor.bih.nic.in
  3. ^ a b A R Kidwai chosen for Padma Vibhushan Archived 8 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Oneindia news, Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 22:01 [IST]
  4. ^ "Pratibha Patil`s resignation accepted", zeenews.com, 22 June 2007.
  5. ^ "S.K. Singh takes oath as Governor of Rajasthan" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, PTI (The Hindu), September 6, 2007.
  6. ^ List of Padma Awardees, Online edition of The Hindu Newspaper, Wednesday, Jan 26, 2011
  7. ^ "PM, Sonia, CMs condole A.R. Kidwai’s death | The Indian Awaaz". theindianawaaz.com. Retrieved on 25 August 2016.