Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Born 11 November 1888 · Outside India
Died 22 February 1958
First Minister of Education in independent India who established the foundation for modern Indian education.
🔔 Add birthday reminderAbul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin, better known as Maulana Azad and sometimes referred to as Abul Kalam Azad, was an Indian writer, activist of the Indian independence movement and statesman. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, following India's independence, he became the first Minister of Education in the Indian government. His contribution to establishing the education foundation in India is recognised by celebrating his birthday as National Education Day across India.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Despite never attending formal school, Maulana Azad mastered six languages, including Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali, through homeschooling and self-study.
1. Born in 1888 in Mecca, Azad was named Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin, returning to Calcutta by 1890 where his upbringing combined traditional Islamic scholarship with self-taught English and political studies.
2. 🌟 In 1912, he launched the Urdu weekly Al-Hilal, using journalism as a weapon against British colonial rule and promoting Hindu-Muslim unity, which stirred a wave of revolutionary sentiment among Indian Muslims.
3. At just 35 in 1923, Azad became the youngest President of the Indian National Congress, steering the party through turbulent years of the independence struggle.
4. In 1934, he helped relocate Jamia Millia Islamia university from Aligarh to New Delhi, a bold move to create an indigenous educational institution independent of British influence.
5. 🕊️ During the Quit India Movement (1940-1945), Azad endured imprisonment alongside Congress leaders, all while advocating secularism and Hindu-Muslim unity amidst rising communal tensions.
6. As independent India’s first Education Minister (1947-1958), he spearheaded the establishment of IIT Kharagpur and championed free education up to age 14, laying foundations for modern Indian education.
7. 📚 His birthday, November 11, is celebrated as National Education Day, commemorating his vision for a literate and united India through education.
8. ❓ How did Maulana Azad’s upbringing in Mecca and Calcutta shape his vision of a secular, united India, resisting religious divides during colonial turmoil?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Bharat Ratna
🔍 One thing most people don't know
Azad’s father fled India after the 1857 rebellion and settled in Mecca, where Azad was subsequently born in 1888 before the family returned to Calcutta in 1890.
🖼️ Through the Years
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
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— Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
Abul Kalam Azad । Ek Bharat
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Maulana Azad’s relentless advocacy for Hindu-Muslim unity and secularism influenced the Congress party’s stance during India’s independence movement, helping to counter divisive communal politics. As India's first Education Minister, his initiatives led to the creation of premier institutions like IIT Kharagpur and Jamia Millia Islamia’s growth, shaping India’s post-independence educational infrastructure. His vision for accessible education continues to inspire national policies, reflected in the annual National Education Day.
💬 Social Buzz
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