Aurangabad, April 7:
Noted educationist and journalist Padmashri Fatma Zakaria was laid to rest near the grave of Dr Rafiq Zakaria, her husband, noted scholar and founder of Maulana Azad Education Society (MAES) and Maulana Azad Educational Trust (MAET), at 11 am on Wednesday.
As reported earlier by this newspaper, Fatma Zakaria died of COVID at Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital at 4 pm on Tuesday.
Since she was COVID patient, only 20 persons were allowed to offer her Namaz-e-Janaza performed at Maulana Azad College campus, Rauza Baugh at 10 am.
Her daughter Tasnim Zakaria, nephews Haroon Adam and Asif Zakaria and a relative Sarfaraz Arzoon arrived here from Mumbai this morning by flight to participate in her funeral procession.
Her two sons-Fareed and Arshad Zakaria, who live in the US, were unable to come here because plane service was halted in view of COVID. However, they were monitoring everything online from the US.
She was laid to rest near Dr Rafiq Zakaria's grave in the same campus at 11 am.
Dr A G Khan (former director, Board of University and College Development, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University), Principals-Dr Mazhar Farooqui, Dr Maqdoom Farooqui, Dr Gulam Rabbani, Dr Abubakar Bawazir, Dr Ghalib Hundekari- were also present.
MP Imtiaz Jaleel visited the campus and paid rich tribute to her.
Many people, including senior teaching and non-teaching staff members, wished to attend her funeral procession but, were not allowed given the COVID norms. Dr Rafiq Zakaria Campus was closed totally today and no one given entry.
So, an online condolence meeting was conducted at 12.30 to pay glowing tributes to the departed soul.