Ahmed, Fakhruddin Ali (1905-1977), an Indian politician, was the fifth president of the republic of India, serving from 1974 until 1977. He was the second Muslim to hold the office of president. Zakir Husain, who was president from 1967 to 1969, was the first.
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was born on May 30, 1905, in Delhi and educated in the United Kingdom. After completing his education, he returned to India and entered state politics. Instead of joining the Muslim League, Ahmed became a member of the mainly Hindu Congress Party and, in 1935, won election to the Assam state assembly. From 1935 to 1966, Ahmed held various state ministerial and legal offices. He was imprisoned several times during World War II (1939-1945) as a result of the Congress Party’s opposition to British rule in India.
In 1966, Ahmed became a member of the first cabinet of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1974, Gandhi ensured his election as president of India. In June 1975, Ahmed signed the government’s proclamation of a state of emergency. He backed Gandhi throughout her period of emergency rule from 1975 to 1977, but died on Feb. 11, 1977, shortly before the March election in which the Gandhi government was defeated.
