By MM News
New Delhi : Aug 24 : Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai, an Indian politician who served as Governor of Bihar, West Bengal, and Haryana states has passed away today at Escort Hospital ,New Delhi. He was 96.
He was born in 1920 in Baragaon village of Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh .
He left two sons and four daughters behind.
He studied BA at Jamia Millia Islamia , 1940, MSc at University of Illinois, US, 1948 and PhD at Cornell University’ US, 1950.
Dr. Kidwai started his professional career as the Professor and head of Department of Chemistry and Dean of Faculty of Science at Aligarh Muslim University, India. Kidwai then went on to become the Chairman of Union Public Service Commission-UPSC, Government of India from 1974 to 1977. He was Governor of Bihar twice, from 1979 to 1985 and 1993 to 1998, and Governor of West Bengal from 1998 to 1999.
He was Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 1983 to 1992 and has also been the director of the Jammu & Kashmir Bank.
Kidwai was a member of the Rajya Sabha from January 2000 to July 2004. He was the Governor of Haryana from 7 July 2004 to 27 July 2009.After Pratibha Patil ‘s resignation as Governor of Rajasthan in June 2007, he was asked to take over that position as well, serving as Governor of the state until S.K Singh took office on 6 September 2007.
In addition to his political career, he has been a champion for promoting research and development and elevating the status of women by education and self-reliance. He continues to serve as the Chairman of Institute of Marketing and Management, New Delhi and President of Vocational Education Society for Women.
Dr. Kidwai served as a Member of the following Committees, organizations and institutions of the country:
Without doubt Prof AR Qidwai was a very distinguished person with great dynamism. One of his traits that I always admired was that he was never reluctant to help Muslims where he could, even though he was working among so many sharks who were gunning for him because he was an upright Muslim. I remember how during the Vajpayee era as governor of Bengal he declined to dismiss the Communist govt of Bengal that BJP was after.
Despite having been in such high positions he always talked to anyone and everyone and never hesitated in helping needy Muslims. Today as we look back on the prominent Muslims in India in the last 50 years, how many can you count who had these qualities and yet he was very bright and smart. He was respected by both Muslims and Hindus. For me he was a role model from whom I learned a lot.
This is how Allah gave him a long life and so many distinctions. Allah showed us all that if you do good Allah will reward you in this life not to mention the hereafter.
AR Qidwai sahib: main qaum ki jaanib say aaapkaa shukriya adaa kurta hoon. Inshallah Khuda aapki mahgfarat karegaa. Ameen
Dr A R Kidwai was a great person of dignity and highly involve in education of young specially he always help full to Muslim students in Alighar Muslim university,
he start his Carrier as a educatinist in Alighar university and sever a governor on bihar west bangal and hayeryan more the 25 years that is a record
I pray to Allamighty Allah to give him best place in jannah
Dr Kidawi was very honorable person.I knew him personally when we use to go and see him during eid festival.Very helpful attitude, loving, respectable person.Never seen person of his status to help people with open arms.
Ma Allah set bless him and give him highest place in paradise
Most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering…ARKidwai, Head/Dept. Chemistry-AMU, 1964 Addressing the relief work for Bihar drought committee at Aligarh!
After that I met him at the western court-1967…& finally he become a Neighbour at Shahjhan Rd of my M/Uncle AR Khan-Director,CBI-Delhi.
Kidwai Saheb was an extraordinary man: kind, generous, gracious, and always the consummate scientist pushing the limits of his work to expand the possibilities of science into the boundaries of Politis! He had few great friends:
Prof.Dr. Raies Ahmed
Dr. Monis Raza
Dr, Nurul Hasan-Union Minister, education..Gov. W/Bengal.
Engg. MM Khan ( Khurja) an Alig. Member Railway Board.
Kidwai Saheb was ahead of us all. He was ever the adventurer, the pathfinder, the free and soaring spirit.
Whenever I met him his message for Muslim youth remained: Have Courage, determination, creativity, and resourcefulness…
Looking at Moonis Bhai, he advised Hasan Arabi-Lukow the same!
ALLAHI Rehami….InnaLillahei wa Innaelaihai Rajaioon!
ALLHswt may grant him great Darajat in Jannah.