Quote of the day by Dr Zakir Husain: The quality of its education is inescapably...
Dr Zakir Husain has reminded nations that strong education shapes a strong society. He has argued that schools and universities form the bedrock of democracy, dignity and progress.
“The quality of its education is inescapably involved in the quality of the nation.”
These words come from Dr Zakir Husain, the educationist who served as India’s third President and who spent his life shaping schools and universities.
He meant that a country’s character, justice and prosperity grow directly from the calibre of its teaching, its curriculum and the habits of learning it creates.
WHO WAS DR ZAKIR HUSIAN
Zakir Husain was born on February 8, 1897 in Hyderabad and died on May 3, 1969 while serving as President of India.
Husain went on to study at Aligarh Muslim University, where he earned his degree in Economics. From the 1920s, Husain emerged as a leader in educational thought, advocating for learning that combined intellectual, moral, and practical development.
He was one of the founders of Jamia Millia Islamia, serving as its Vice-Chancellor for many years.
Beyond education, Husain played a significant role in public life. He was appointed Vice-President of India in 1962, and in 1967 he became the third President of India, serving until his death on 3 May 1969.
Dr Zakir Husain’s contributions have had a lasting impact on India’s educational landscape. His vision of linking quality education with national development continues to guide policymakers, educators, and students.
As a thinker, teacher, and leader, he embodied the belief that education is the cornerstone of a strong, just, and progressive society.
His official profile and tributes show a man who placed teaching at the heart of national work.
EXPLAINING THE QUOTE AND ITS PHILOSOPHY
“The quality of its education is inescapably involved in the quality of the nation.”
Dr. Zakir Husain spoke this line during his Convocation Address at Bombay University on August 21, 1967.
In simple terms, Zakir Husain taught that if schools are weak, society becomes weak. Education shapes thinking habits, moral outlook and civic skills.
Husain argued that curricula should develop practical skills, respect for human dignity and a spirit of service — not merely memorise facts.
He chaired national education efforts such as the Basic National Education (the Wardha scheme) which emphasised crafts, mother-tongue instruction and value formation as necessary to build responsible citizens.
For him, the classroom was where ideas of justice and equality took root; poor schooling meant gaps in judgement, empathy and national understanding.
The phrase also carries a political charge. Husain warned that when education becomes merely an instrument of partisan interest, it ceases to serve the nation.
He believed teachers must remain independent, and education policy should aim at national cohesion and practical welfare rather than narrow politics.
In short, raising a nation’s quality begins with raising the standards, aims and freedoms of its schools and universities.
MORE QUOTES BY DR ZAKIR HUSAIN
The whole of Bharat is my home and its people are my family.
Power should be used only for moral purposes. The peace of the strong is what we shall dedicate ourselves to work for.
Education is a prime instrument of national purpose.
A good teacher is one who can inspire his students to think for themselves.
The process of constant renewal is the process of growth of national culture and national character.
Dr Zakir Husain’s remark remains a steady reminder: to build a fair, prosperous and democratic nation we must first build excellent education — teachers who inspire, schools that teach thinking, and systems that place learning before short-term politics.
Improving a country begins in the classroom.