Students, faculty members, staff, alumni and representatives of the Jamia Hamdard community gathered on campus on Sunday to observe Founder’s Day and remember the life, vision and enduring legacy of Hakim Abdul Hameed, the physician, educationist, philanthropist and institution builder whose commitment to public welfare transformed a modest Unani initiative into a major centre of education, healthcare, research and cultural preservation.
Born in Delhi on September 14, 1908, Hakim Abdul Hameed devoted much of his life to the ideals of service, education and social responsibility. He died on July 22, 1999, at the age of 90. Each year, Founder’s Day provides an opportunity for the university community to reflect on his contribution and to revisit the principles that shaped the development of Hamdard and, later, Jamia Hamdard.
The story of Hamdard began in 1906, when Hameed’s father, Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed, established a small Unani clinic in Delhi and named it Hamdard. The name itself represented a philosophy of compassion. Hamdard conveys the idea of one who shares another person’s pain and stands with others in times of difficulty. That principle eventually became central to the wider institutional vision associated with the Hamdard movement.
Following the death of his father, Abdul Hameed assumed responsibility for the family enterprise at a relatively young age. Through his leadership, dedication and long term vision, Hamdard expanded considerably and became one of the country’s prominent names in Unani medicine and pharmaceuticals. His approach, however, was not limited to commercial growth. He increasingly viewed the organisation as an instrument through which education, healthcare, scholarship and social welfare could be strengthened.
A decisive moment came in August 1948, when Abdul Hameed transformed Hamdard from a privately owned commercial enterprise into a Wakf. Through this decision, the future income generated by the enterprise was committed to public welfare. The move reflected his belief that wealth and enterprise could serve a larger social purpose when placed within a framework of institutional responsibility.
The resources generated through Hamdard Wakf Laboratories subsequently supported the establishment and development of a wide range of educational, cultural and social institutions. Among them were the Hamdard National Foundation, established in 1964, the Hamdard Education Society, the Hamdard Study Circle and the Hamdard Public School. These initiatives demonstrated Hameed’s conviction that a strong society requires investment not only in professional education but also in schools, scholarship, culture and intellectual development.
His contribution to the preservation of India’s cultural and literary heritage was equally significant. The Hamdard Institute of Historical Research and the Ghalib Academy became important initiatives associated with the preservation and promotion of Urdu literature, history and intellectual traditions. Other initiatives, including the Centre for South Asian Studies and the Business and Employment Bureau, reflected his broader concern for research, regional understanding, employment and social development.
The educational vision associated with Hamdard gained further momentum with the establishment of Hamdard Tibbi College in 1963. The institution created an organised platform for the study and teaching of Unani medicine. This was followed by the establishment of the Hamdard College of Pharmacy in 1972, expanding the academic focus towards pharmaceutical education and research.
The institutional journey reached a major milestone on May 10, 1989, when the Ministry of Human Resource Development granted deemed university status to the combined institutions under the name Jamia Hamdard. The development marked the formal emergence of an institution that sought to bring together traditional knowledge, modern education, scientific research and professional training.
Jamia Hamdard was formally inaugurated on August 1, 1989, by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The occasion was widely regarded as an important moment in the history of the institution. In his address, the Prime Minister recognised Hameed’s contribution towards creating a seat of learning that could provide educational opportunities to a minority community while simultaneously contributing to the progress and development of the nation.
Over the decades, the university has expanded beyond its early foundations in Unani medicine and pharmacy. It has developed programmes and research activities across areas including medicine, health sciences, pharmacy, engineering, computer science, management, humanities and social sciences. The institution today represents a broader educational vision that combines professional learning with research and public service.
Hameed’s public contribution also extended beyond Jamia Hamdard. He served as Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 1996 until his death in 1999. His contribution to education, medicine, philanthropy and public life was recognised by the Government of India through the Padma Shri in 1965 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992.
He also worked to strengthen academic and cultural relations between India and the Arab world. His interests extended across education, medicine, history, literature and international cultural engagement. His institutional initiatives demonstrated an understanding that education is not confined to classrooms but also includes the preservation of heritage, promotion of scholarship and creation of opportunities for wider society.
The Hamdard legacy also developed beyond India. Hameed’s younger brother, Hakim Muhammad Saeed, carried forward a similar philosophy after the Partition and established Hamdard institutions in Pakistan. The parallel development of the two Hamdard traditions reflected the enduring influence of the family’s emphasis on medicine, education, philanthropy and public service.
At today’s Founder’s Day gathering, speakers and university representatives recalled that the Wakf established in 1948 continues to support institutions created under Hameed’s vision. The Ghalib Academy remains associated with the preservation and promotion of Urdu literary traditions, while the Hamdard Public School continues its educational mission. These institutions stand as examples of how a philanthropic vision can continue across generations.
The significance of Founder’s Day therefore extends beyond a ceremonial remembrance. For students and faculty members, the occasion serves as a reminder of the values that shaped Jamia Hamdard from its earliest days. Compassion, education, service, scientific inquiry and social responsibility remain closely connected with the institution’s identity.
More than a century after the establishment of the first Hamdard clinic in Delhi, the word Hamdard continues to carry the meaning that inspired its founder and his family. It represents sympathy, solidarity and a willingness to share the difficulties of others. The journey from a modest Unani clinic to a university with thousands of students illustrates how an idea rooted in compassion can develop into an enduring institution.
As Jamia Hamdard observes Founder’s Day, the legacy of Hakim Abdul Hameed remains closely linked with the university’s continuing efforts in education, research, healthcare and community service. His life offers a model of institution building in which personal success was ultimately directed towards a wider public purpose. The story of Hamdard, therefore, is not simply a story of an institution. It is a story of an idea that placed human welfare at the centre of education and development.
The annual observance also invites the present generation of students and scholars to consider how the founding principles can be carried into a changing world. In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital transformation and emerging scientific disciplines, the underlying message of service and responsibility remains relevant. The challenge for contemporary institutions is to combine innovation with compassion and knowledge with social purpose.
For Jamia Hamdard, Founder’s Day is thus both a remembrance and a renewed commitment. It honours the person who laid the foundation of the institution while encouraging the university community to carry forward the spirit of Hamdard in new areas of knowledge, research and public service.
