Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conferred the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for National Integration upon eminent journalist MJ Akbar and Gandhian Hema Bharali for 2008 and 2009 respectively at a function held at Pragjyoti Indian Tea Association Auditorium at Machkhowa in Guwahati on February 18, 2011.
Addressing the function, Manmohan Singh said the award is a small token of our gratitude to one of the great sons of Assam and India. He said, “The Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for National Integration is given to people who have contributed significantly to the causes of social harmony and national integration. It is also a small token of our gratitude to one of the great sons of Assam and India. Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s contribution to the Indian freedom struggle was invaluable. A firm believer in the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, he left an indelible imprint on the political landscape of our great nation.
“Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s long and distinguished career in public life, which culminated in his occupying the august position of President of India is a shining example of commitment to ethical values and selfless service to the people. Indeed, his contribution to the building of our society and country continues inspiring all of us. The institution of the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award by the Government of Assam is a befitting tribute to the memory of this great leader. I compliment the Chief Minister of Assam for taking this initiative.”
Applauding the two noted awardees, Manmohan Singh said, “I congratulate and compliment, Shri. MJ Akbar and Smt. Hema Bharali, the awardees for the years 2008 and 2009 respectively. Shri. M.J. Akbar is a distinguished editor and a prolific author. He occupies a special place in Indian journalism. His deep understanding of contemporary events, coupled with an incisive analytical ability have educated and informed our people on several vexed issues that our country faces. Known for his commitment to personal honesty and professional integrity, Shri Akbar has set a benchmark in the field of journalism for others to emulate. Indeed, his work has contributed handsomely to fostering social harmony and national integration. I applaud Shri Akbar’s achievements and wish him even more success in the future.
“Smt. Hema Bharali’s life is a shining example of selfless service to the downtrodden. An eminent freedom fighter, steeped in Gandhian philosophy, she has been closely associated with the Bhoodan movement. Over the past several decades, she has constantly engaged herself in promoting education and activities for social uplift of the under privileged sections of our society, thus contributing to the cause of social harmony. She has also worked tirelessly for the welfare and empowerment of women and contribution to peace and non-violence. She is a worthy winner of the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed award and I wish that in the future she will be even more successful in improving the status of the underprivileged people and giving hope to them.”
Akbar, in his acceptance speech, stressed on building a modern nation. He said, “In my view, a modern nation should have four strong pillars: democracy, but not occasional democracy; secularism; gender equality; and economic equity. We are the world’s number one in the first three pillars, but we are far behind in economic equity.” The veteran editor further said he normally refuses awards as he believes a journalist should do his work and go home and not stop on the way to collect compliments.
Hema Bharali, in her speech, emphasised that the country should be managed by “politically learned people” instead of “only politicians.”
The Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for National Integration was instituted to honour persons of eminence for their contribution towards harmony and national integration of the society. The award carries a citation and a monetary amount of Rs 2 lakh. The award was instituted in 2005 by the Assam government in memory of the 5th President of India, Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who was originally from Assam. The first award was conferred on actor and parliamentarian Sunil Dutt posthumously (2005). Well-known editor of The Indian Express, Shekhar Gupta, received the award in 2006. Eminent actress and social activist Shabana Azmi was honoured with the award for 2007.
DR. FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was the President of India from August 24, 1974 to February 11, 1977. Even though he was born in Old Delhi on May 13, 1905, his father was originally from Assam. His father Col. Zalnur Ali was a resident of Kacharighat, in the Sibsagar district of Assam. Zalnur Ali, an Indian Medical Service officer, had to leave Assam following an incident in Shillong. He and his colleague, Col. Sibram Bora, were allotted seats at a function in the Shillong Club isolating from the white guests. The two Assamese Colonels boycotted the function in protest against the discrimination. The infuriated white officers transferred the two officers to distant N-W Province. It was at his new posting that Zalnur Ali met the daughter of the Nawab of Lohari in Delhi. The two got married and Fakhruddin was born in Delhi.
Fakhruddin matriculated from Delhi Government High School and went to England for higher education in 1913 where he joined Cambridge University. He was then called to the Bar from the Inner Temple of London. He returned to India in 1928 and started legal practice in the Lahore High Court.
In 1925 he met Jawaharlal Nehru. Young Fakhruddin was highly impressed by the ideals and progressive ideas of Nehru. In 1931 he became a primary member of Congress and actively participated in the freedom movement. He was jailed for a year for taking part in satyagrahas in December 1940. He was again arrested during the Quit India movement and sentenced to jail for almost four years.
Fakhruddin married Abida, a student of AMU and a daughter of a respectable family of U.P. “When negotiations for the wedding were under way, Ahmed was undergoing a jail term in Jorhat as security prisoner. At a certain stage of the negotiations Abida’s family wanted to know what the prospective bridegroom was doing. The answer came from one of the relatives of the would-be bridegroom: Fil hal to jail men Hai (At present he is in jail). But destiny so ordained that Fakhruddin and Abida were happily married on 9 November 1945.”
Fakhruddin held several positions in the Congress. He was a member of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee from 1936. He was then a member of AICC from 1947 to 1974. He was elected to the Assam Assembly and became the Minister of Finance, Revenue and Labour in the 1938 Gopinath Bardoloi Ministry. His scheme of introducing the Assam Agricultural Income-tax Bill and his pro-labour policies earned him popularity.
After independence, Fakhruddin was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1952-53. Then he contested Assam assembly elections. He was elected to the Assam Assembly for two consecutive terms – 1957-62 and 1962-67. Nehru asked him to join his cabinet in January 1966. Fakhruddin was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1971 and held portfolios of Food and Agriculture, Education, Industrial Development and Company Laws. He was then elected President of India in August 1974. He died in office on February 11, 1977, leaving behind wife, two sons and a daughter. His wife Abida was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1981 from a U.P. constituency in a by-election.
Fakhruddin was a man of diverse interests. He was known for his deep interest in sports, music, fine arts and poetry. He was a refined and sober person.
Fakhruddin was a tennis player and golfer. He was elected President of the Assam Football Association and the Assam Cricket Association for several terms. He was also Vice-President of Assam Sports Council. From 1961 onwards he was a member of Delhi Golf Club and the Delhi Gymkhana Club. In 1967 he was elected President of All India Cricket Association.