Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai is an Indian politician. He served as Governor of Bihar, West Bengal, and Haryana states. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha, upper house of the Indian parliament from 2000 to 2004. He was born on 1 July 1920 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. He completed graduation from Jamia Millia Islamia University in the year 1940. Then he went abroad where he completed M.Sc. at University of Illinois, in 1948 and Ph.D. at Cornell University, in 1950, both in US. He has taken part in Indian freedom struggle movement when he was a student, since 1930â??s. He also contributed in the publication of the Congress News Bulletin and broadcasting news through Azad Radio in Mumbai. He has served as the Chairman of Union Public Service Commission during the period - 1974 to 1977. He was Governor of Bihar twice, (1979 to 1985) and (1993 to 1998), Governor of West Bengal from 1998 to 1999 and Governor of Haryana from 2004 to 2009. After Pratibha Patil's resignation as Governor of Rajasthan in June 2007, he briefly held that position as well. He was Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, from 1983 to 1992. He has also served as the director of J&K Bank.

He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2004. He is also known as an academician who has served for more than 35 years, a scientist and researcher. He has conducted researches on Organic and Natural Products as well as Chemistry and Biochemistry subjects. He has submitted over 40 Original Research Papers in the subjects of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in National and International Journals. He served as ex-officio Chancellor of all Universities during the tenure of Governor of Bihar and West Bengal. On 25th Jan, 2011 Kidwai was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his contributions to Public affairs.