Mumbai, July 9
A freedom fighter, Islamic scholar, and Congress party leader Dr Rafiq Zakaria died of a massive heart attack this morning in Mumbai. He was 85.

According to family members he complained of back pain soon after he finished his morning prayers. He died shortly after 7 am.

Dr Zakaria is survived by wife Fatima, daughter Tasneem, and three sons, Mansoor, Arshad and Farid.

Dr Zakaria’s mortal remains will taken to his native Aurangabad for his funeral on Monday. His son, Farid, an Editor with Newsweek magazine, is expected from the United States tomorrow.

Dr Zakaria was born on 5 April 1920 in Maharashtra. He was a bright student, winning the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for topping the MA examination in Bombay University. He received a PhD with the highest honours from London University and qualified for the bar from Lincoln’s Inn.

Dr Zakaria participated in the freedom struggle and was a vocal opponent of Jinnah’s two-nation theory. He joined the freedom struggle by participating in the Quit India movement of 1942 heeding the call of Mahatma Gandhi. In later years he entered mainstream politics and was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Aurangabad for three terms from 1962. He was also a minister in the state Cabinet.

He was later elected to Parliament. Dr Zakaria represented India at the United Nations thrice (in 1965, 1990 and 1996) and was a special envoy of the Prime Minister to the Muslim world.