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Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Death Anniversary: 22 February marks the death anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of India. He is also well known as an Islamic theologian, writer, and senior leader of the Indian National Congress. Azad was one of the leaders who influenced people and was one of the activists who worked hard during the fight for independence.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is respected as a scholar, the first education minister of Independent India (15 August 1947- 2 February 1958), and for his efforts encouraging research in eastern learning and literature. Azad played a major role in the establishment of the University Grant Commission (UGC). He is also responsible for building the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). He died in the year 1958.
Check out the list of interesting facts and inspirational quotes by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
1. The full name of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was Sayyid Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad.
2. Maulana was homeschooled and self-taught. He was so intelligent that by the age of 15, he was teaching a class of students twice his age. He was fluent in multiple languages like Arabic, English, Urdu, Hindi, Persian, and Bengali.
3. He received traditional Islamic education from his Islamic scholar father but also learned English secretly.
4. Azad had also worked as a journalist in the year 1912 during which time he published a weekly Urdu-language newspaper in Calcutta, Al-Hilal and contributed to a rich body of work (India wins Freedom, Ghulabe Khatir, Ghubar-e-Khatir, Tazkirah, Tarjumanul Quran).
5. As Jawaharlal Nehru described Maulana, he was truly ‘Mir-i- Karawan’ (the caravan leader), "a very brave and gallant gentleman, a finished product of the culture."
6. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is remembered for his significant contribution to the field of education.
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