Situated in the premises of Jamia Millia Islamia University are Dr. Zakir Hussain’s mausoleum and a museum dedicated to him, which speaks volumes about his achievements and greatness. Dr. Zakir Hussain was the third President of independent India and an eminent politician and educationist. The museum at Jamia Millia Islamia University is a small but well kept place that houses many personal items of Dr. Zakir Hussain, his coveted Bharat Ratna Medal, some rare gift items that were presented to him, and many books written by him.
The walls of the museum have lines of rare black and white photographs of Dr. Zakir Hussain depicting the glorious times that he has been a part of. One of the pictures depicts his childhood, another shows him as a doting father with his little daughter and many others show him with eminent personalities and dignitaries. The museum has a rich collection of items of cultural value and is definitely worth a visit. Preserved in glass wall cabinets with wooden frames, the most eye-catching piece there seems to be Dr. Zakir Hussain’s beautiful pink convocation gown, whose color has faded with time but it has certainly failed to fade its charm. His jute sherwani, his maroon velvet choga with beautifully embroidered borders, his shoes turning greyish over time, his wrist watch, his pens, his transistor in a brown leather case and many of his other personal items will push you back to his glorious history.
The museum also showcases beautiful spears, daggers and swords with hilts shaped as lion and dragon heads, in rich red and maroon velvet scabbards. A knife made out of parts of a bomb that was dropped by Pakistan at Ambala is a unique museum piece. A beautiful ivory statue of Mahatma Gandhi presented to Dr. Zakir Hussain also sits in the wall unit along with a convocation sword which was a gift to him from Poland. The painted lacquer bowls and saucers, the wooden spoons, forks and bowls, the jade tumblers, the wooden charkha, the ivory sticks and a small pink box containing the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi all add to the uniqueness of the museum. The museum also has a good collection of books written by Dr. Zakir Hussain. And Above all is Dr. Zakir Hussain’s Bharat Ratna Medal, the highest civilian award of India, hanging high and proud in the wall unit of the museum.
Dr. Zakir Hussain’s museum is a beautiful collection of some rare art pieces and is a place that speaks about the glorious and inspiring journey of one of India’s greatest leaders and educationists. However, in spite of all the historical richness, the museum is a place with not many visitors. The visitors’ register reveals this sad truth. The entries in the register show quite less number of visitors to the museum. But, yes the students from Jamia Millia Islamia University and little children from the Jamia School are frequent visitors to the museum. With all the richness, motivation and a message for us to strive for a better and a meaningful life, Dr. Zakir Hussain’s Museum is undoubtedly a place worth visiting and like the many other museums in Delhi bustling with people; it too deserves more public attention.
So, the next time you plan to tour Delhi, don’t forget to drop in at Dr. Zakir Hussain’s Museum to get that dose of inspiration and learning. Delhi surely has a lot to offer!!
