write a biography of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad
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Born: November 11, 1888
Place of Birth: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Parents: Muhammad Khairuddin (Father) and Alia Muhammad Khairuddin (Mother)
Spouse: Zulaikha Begum
Children: None
Education: Homeschooled; Self-taught
Association: Indian National Congress
Movement: Indian Nationalist Movement
Political Ideology: Liberalism; right-winged; Egalitarian
Religious views: Islam
Publications: Ghubar-e-Khatir (1942-1946); India Wins Freedom (1978);
Passed Away: February 22, 1958
Memorial: Abul Kalam Azad tomb, New Delhi, India
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the face of communal harmony in modern India. A renowned scholar and an active political leader, he had a charismatic personality right from the beginning. So deep embedded was the willingness to participate in the national struggle for independence that he gave up on his clergyman profession and took to serving in the Indian independence movement. Azad was profoundly inspired by Gandhi and was an active supporter of the latter’s non-violence, civil disobedience and non-cooperation movement. Unlike other Muslim leaders, he condemned communal separation advocated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other Muslim leaders and stressed on the fact that national freedom was of greater importance than communal freedom. He worked for religious harmony and became a staunch opponent of the partition. He lived long not just to witness Indian Independence and the subsequent Partition, but also served as free India’s first Education Minister.
Maulana Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad (11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958) was an Indian scholar, activist and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress during the Indian independence movement. Following India's independence, he became the First Minister of Education in the Indian government Minister of Human Resource Development (until 25 September 1958, Ministry of Education) . He is commonly remembered as Maulana Azad; the word Maulana is an honorific meaning 'Our Master', and he had adopted Azad (Free) as his pen name. His contribution to establishing the education foundation in India is recognised by celebrating his birthday as "National Education Day" across India.
As a young man, Azad composed poetry in Urdu, as well as treatises on religion and philosophy. He rose to prominence through his work as a journalist, publishing works critical of the British Raj and espousing the causes of Indian nationalism. Azad became the leader of the Khilafat Movement, during which he came into close contact with the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. Azad became an enthusiastic supporter of Gandhi's ideas of non-violent civil disobedience, and worked to organise the non-co-operation movement in protest of the 1919 Rowlatt Acts. Azad committed himself to Gandhi's ideals, including promoting Swadeshi (indigenous) products and the cause of Swaraj (Self-rule) for India. In 1923, at an age of 35, he became the youngest person to serve as the President of the Indian National Congress.
In October 1920, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was elected as a member of foundation committee to establish Jamia Millia Islamia at Aligarh in U. P. without taking help from British colonial government. He assisted in shifting the campus of the university from Aligarh to New Delhi in 1934. The main gate (Gate No. 7) to the main campus of the university is named after him.
Azad was one of the main organizers of the Dharasana Satyagraha in 1931, and emerged as one of the most important national leaders of the time, prominently leading the causes of Hindu-Muslim unity as well as espousing secularism and socialism. He served as Congress president from 1940 to 1945, during which the Quit India rebellion was launched. Azad was imprisoned, together with the entire Congress leadership.
Amidst communal turmoil following the partition of India, he worked for religious harmony. As India's Education Minister, Azad oversaw the establishment of a national education system with free primary education and modern institutions of higher education. He is also credited with the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the foundation of the University Grants Commission, an important institution to supervise and advance higher education throughout the country.
National Education Day (India) an annual observance in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India, who served from 15 August 1947 until 2 February 1958. National Education Day of India is celebrated on 11 November every year in India. He also worked for Hindu-Muslim unity through the Al-Hilal newspaper.