Hameed, 92, died at Apollo Hospital here around 2330 hours last night, university sources said today.

Condoling the death, President K R Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said Hameed would be long remembered for his services by a grateful nation.

``Hakeem Saheb's life-long and dedicated services to the cause of public health and education will be remembered by a grateful nation. His austerity, erudition and public-spiritedness will ever remain a source of inspiration," the President said in his message.

Vajpayee said Hameed's contribution to the field of education in general and medical education in particular and his commendable role in promoting communal harmony would be remembered for long.

Hameed, who was also a Unani physician and chairman of Hamdard (Wakf) laboratories, was laid to rest at theHamdard University campus on the outskirts of the city this evening.

Hameed had been awarded the Padma Bhushan for his outstanding contribution to society. He was also a recipient of Avicenna award in 1983 by the erstwhile USSR and was elected honorary fellow of the Iranian national academy of science in 1995.