Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: National Education Day 2021

Context

Every year since 2008, November 11 is celebrated as the National Education Day to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin.

About

• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, originally named Muhiyuddin Ahmad, was born on 11th November 1888 in Mecca, Saudi-Arabia and died on 22 February 1958.
• He was senior Muslim leader of the Indian National Congress during the Indian independence movement.
• He is commonly remembered as Maulana Azad (word Maulana is honorific meaning ‘Our Master’) and he had adopted Azad (Free) as his pen name.
• Azad was a brilliant debater, as indicated by his name - “Abul Kalam” which means “Lord of Dialogues”.
• Azad mastered several languages like Urdu, Persian, Hindi, English, Bengali and Arabic. 
• He was the first Minister of Education of Independent India.
• He had played an important role in the foundation of Jamia Millia Islamia at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh.
• He assisted in shifting the campus of the university from Aligarh to New Delhi in 1934.
• For his service to the nation, he was posthumously awarded the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.

Contributions of Maulana Azad

• Before independence:
  • Hindu-Muslim unity: He worked as a journalist, publishing works critical of British Raj and espousing causes of Indian nationalism. He worked for Hindu-Muslim unity through the Al-Hilal newspaper.
  • Khilafat movement: He was a prominent Leader in Khilafat Movement.
  • Non-cooperation movement: Disheartened by the Rowlatt Act of 1919, he worked to organise the Non-Cooperation Movement and protests in opposition of the Act.
  • Dharasana Satyagraha: He was one of the main organisers of the Dharasana Satyagraha in 1931.
  • Protest against Two Nation Theory: Maulana criticised Jinnah over Two Nation Theory.
  • Quit India Movement: He played a significant role in the Quit India Movement.
  • Colonial Government. He served as the Congress President from 1940 to 1945, during which the Quit India movement was launched.
  • India’s independence: He was strictly against India’s partition even after the acceptance of partition by Gandhiji.
• Post-Independence:
  • Member of Constitution assembly: He was a member of the constituent assembly and helped in shaping the Constitution of India.
  • Education: He was the first Union Minister of education.
  • Research: He held portfolios of Natural resources and scientific research. He played a pivotal role in the foundation of CSIR and scientific research laboratories in India.