Indian educationalist and friend of the poor dies
Dr Fatma Zakaria, Chairman Emeritus of the Maulana Azad Educational Trust, died on 6 April, aged 85.
The Trust owns and Indian Hotels Company Limited manages the premises of the Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad (IHM-A). IHM-A offers designed and delivered Bachelor degrees in Hotel Management and Culinary Management which are validated by the University of Huddersfield. Huddersfield Business School has been working with IHM - A, the only platinum-rated hospitality institution in India, since 1996. In February 2018, Fatma Rafiq Zakaria nee Sattar was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Huddersfield for her services to education.
Dr Zakaria was a remarkable woman whose career has spanned many fields, notably social work, journalism and education. She was educated in Bombay and Lucknow. Her interest in social work was developed at Nirmala Niketan in Mumbai. This was the foundation for her many achievements in this field. Her first project was when she started a nursery school for poor and destitute children whilst managing her late father's business interests in Mumbai. More recently Dr Zakaria has been a powerful force in educating and empowering women to have a rightful place in Indian society. This has been recognised by various awards notably when she was asked to be a judge for the WISE Prize for Education awarded by the Qatar Foundation. She always took great pleasure when female graduates won the top academic awards at IHM-A.
Photo of Dr Fatma Zakaria after receiving her Honorary Doctorate from the University of Huddersfield As a young journalist, Dr Zakaria joined the Times of India in 1970 rising to become Senior Assistant Editor responsible for politics and cultural affairs. Through this work, she met many Indian and world leaders. She was the only Indian journalist to interview Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher when they were both serving prime ministers. Dr Zakaria is a former editor of the Sunday Times of India and in 1973, received the Sarojini Naidu Prize for journalism. She edited her late husband's many books on Indian affairs, was a contributor to the Illustrated Weekly and until recently, even found time to edit the Taj Magazine. This publication has long been recognised as India's finest lifestyle and culture journal for hospitality organisations.
Dr Zakaria's work in education was wide-ranging but had one common theme, namely to provide opportunities for those from poor backgrounds. This theme is clearly in evidence today through the work of IHM-A and neighbouring colleges on the Dr Rafiq Zakaria Campus - named after her late husband - 'affordable quality education' is clear for all to see. Dr Zakaria's work in education was recognised by many awards and positions of national and regional responsibility in further and higher education. She was particularly proud to receive The Padma Shi Award for this work from the President of India.
Dr Zakaria was adored and respected by her colleagues and business leaders in the Tata Group of companies, with whom she established partnerships in Aurangabad and Mumbai. The family is respected by regional and national politicians across party lines for their global outlook, secular values and contribution to society for many decades.