National Education Day: 3 things to know about Maulana Azad, a ‘proud Indian and Musalman’

November 11 is observed as National Education Day, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first education minister. Maulana Azad was a journalist, freedom fighter, and senior Congress leader. As communal polarisation worsened in the decade before independence and India headed towards Partition, Azad remained committed to Hindu Muslim unity, to the extent that Muhammad Ali Jinnah termed him “a Muslim showboy” of the Congress. Here are three things you should know about this secular, intellectual, and humanist leader. • 01Maulana Azad stand on Partition, tiff with JinnahAt a time Hindus and Muslims were increasingly divided and the Muslim League's separatist rhetoric was gaining ground, Maulana Azad's belief in communal harmony remained unshakeable. He argued that Indian Muslims could wear both identities — Indian and Muslim — proudly. This is perhaps best evident in a speech he gave at Ramgarh in 1940. “‘I am a Musalman and proud of the fact. Islam’s splendid traditions of 1,300 years are my inheritance. I am unwilling to lose even the smallest part of this inheritance. In addition, I am proud of being an Indian. I am part of the indivisible unity that is Indian nationality. I am indispensable to this noble edifice. Without me this splendid structure of India is incomplete. I am an essential element which has gone to build India. I can never surrender this claim,” Azad said. His views were a direct challenge to the comunal politics of the Muslim League, and Jinnah grew increasingly displeased with him. In July 1940, Azad wrote to Jinnah about the League's views on “any provisional arrangement not based on the two-nation scheme”. Jinnah hit back with: “I refuse to discuss with you...you have completely forfeited the confidence of Muslim India. Can't you realise you are made a Muslim showboy Congress President to give it colour that it is national and deceive foreign countries. You represent neither Muslims not Hindus.” [Pak. Journal of Int’L Affairs, Vol 5, Issue 4 (2022)]. Ironically, Azad was a far more devout and practising Muslim than the anglicised Jinnah. ### Maulana Azad stand on Partition, tiff with Jinnah At a time Hindus and Muslims were increasingly divided and the Muslim League's separatist rhetoric was gaining ground, Maulana Azad's belief in communal harmony remained unshakeable. He argued that Indian Muslims could wear both identities — Indian and Muslim — proudly. This is perhaps best evident in a speech he gave at Ramgarh in 1940. “‘I am a Musalman and proud of the fact. Islam’s splendid traditions of 1,300 years are my inheritance. I am unwilling to lose even the smallest part of this inheritance. In addition, I am proud of being an Indian. I am part of the indivisible unity that is Indian nationality. I am indispensable to this noble edifice. Without me this splendid structure of India is incomplete. I am an essential element which has gone to build India. I can never surrender this claim,” Azad said. His views were a direct challenge to the comunal politics of the Muslim League, and Jinnah grew increasingly displeased with him. In July 1940, Azad wrote to Jinnah about the League's views on “any provisional arrangement not based on the two-nation scheme”. Jinnah hit back with: “I refuse to discuss with you...you have completely forfeited the confidence of Muslim India. Can't you realise you are made a Muslim showboy Congress President to give it colour that it is national and deceive foreign countries. You represent neither Muslims not Hindus.” [Pak. Journal of Int’L Affairs, Vol 5, Issue 4 (2022)]. Ironically, Azad was a far more devout and practising Muslim than the anglicised Jinnah. • 02Maulana Azad's role in building India's educational institutesAs education minister and even before that, Azad played a role in building institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the University Grants Commission (UGC), Jamia Millia Islamia, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), etc. S Irfan Habib, historian and author of Maulana Azad: A Life, A Biography, said, “Azad was responsible for the increase in education expenditure from Rs 1 crore to Rs 30 crore by the end of his tenure. He considered adult literacy a serious issue.” ### Maulana Azad's role in building India's educational institutes As education minister and even before that, Azad played a role in building institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the University Grants Commission (UGC), Jamia Millia Islamia, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), etc. S Irfan Habib, historian and author of Maulana Azad: A Life, A Biography, said, “Azad was responsible for the increase in education expenditure from Rs 1 crore to Rs 30 crore by the end of his tenure. He considered adult literacy a serious issue.” • 03Why he believed English could not be dispensed with in a hurryMaulana Azad earlier believed that Indians should move away from the English language after the British left. However, he changed his views. In a speech at the Constituent Assembly on September 14, 1949, he explained why. “Perhaps it would not be out of the place if I tell you that I am the first man who tried in the Assembly that Hindustani be heard from the Government benches instead of English. But considering the pros and cons of the matter I had to come to this conclusion that the matter could not be brought to reality merely by sentiments and wishes...Two great obstacles stand in our way.” He elaborated, “The first difficulty is that there is no national language as such which can immediately take the place of English... Though admission of this fact gives us heart-burning, we have to admit it with regret... The other obstacle is the non-existence of a common language in our country. If we try to bring immediately our national language in place of English, then, which can be that language which is read and written alike throughout the whole country?” He said that if English were to be hurriedly replaced, “I am afraid that in this way the standard of education will suffer a set-back and it will not be in the interests of the academic capability of the students.” ### Why he believed English could not be dispensed with in a hurry Maulana Azad earlier believed that Indians should move away from the English language after the British left. However, he changed his views. In a speech at the Constituent Assembly on September 14, 1949, he explained why. “Perhaps it would not be out of the place if I tell you that I am the first man who tried in the Assembly that Hindustani be heard from the Government benches instead of English. But considering the pros and cons of the matter I had to come to this conclusion that the matter could not be brought to reality merely by sentiments and wishes...Two great obstacles stand in our way.” He elaborated, “The first difficulty is that there is no national language as such which can immediately take the place of English... Though admission of this fact gives us heart-burning, we have to admit it with regret... The other obstacle is the non-existence of a common language in our country. If we try to bring immediately our national language in place of English, then, which can be that language which is read and written alike throughout the whole country?” He said that if English were to be hurriedly replaced, “I am afraid that in this way the standard of education will suffer a set-back and it will not be in the interests of the academic capability of the students.” Yashee is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and she heads the Explained Desk. With over 12 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she specializes in translating intricate geopolitical shifts, legal frameworks, and historical narratives into accessible insight. Having started her career with Hindustan Times and later contributing to India Today (DailyO), Yashee brings a veteran’s perspective to contemporary analysis. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the historic Presidency College, Kolkata, and a postgraduate diploma from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Her work provides readers with the deep context needed to navigate a complex world. ... Read More