Rafiq Zakaria

Rafiq Zakaria Biography

Rafiq Zakaria was an Indian politician, freedom fighter and Islamic religious cleric. He has been associated with Indian National Congress and was known for his advocacy of conservative Islam. He has authored many books on Indian affairs, Islam and British imperialism. ‘The Man Who Divided India’ is his most noted work in which he describes about Jinnah and political affairs related to India partition. A Study of Nehru, Razia: Queen of India, Sardar Patel and Indian Muslims, The Widening Divide, Discovery of God, Muhammad and the Quran, Rise of Muslims in Indian Politics, The Struggle Within Islam, Conflict Between Religion and Politics, The Price of Partition, The Trial of Benazir, Gandhi and the Break-up of India and Indian Muslims: Where Have They Gone Wrong? are his noted works.

He was a Konkani Muslim born on April 5, 1920 in Nala Sopara, Mumbai. He spent over 25 years in public service and has closely associated with Indian national Congress. As a congress politician of independent India, he has served as the cabinet minister in state government of Maharashtra (Minister for Urban Development) and later as a Member of the Indian parliament where he served as deputy to Indira Gandhi in Lok Sabha. He contested for the first time in 1962, from Aurangabad. He has represented India at United Nations in 1965, 1990 and 1996.

As a politician he has also started numerous schools and colleges from his elected constituency, Aurangabad. Women's college of arts and sciences, Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad and The Maulana Azad Education Trust Aurangabad are the main educational institutions set up by him. He has also served as the Chancellor of the Jamia Urdu, Aligarh and President of Maharashtra College in Mumbai.

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Updated: June 26, 2016