Introduction – Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, popularly known as Maulana Azad, was an Indian Independence activist or freedom fighter, Islamic theologian, writer, and senior leader of an Indian National Congress. After Independence, Maulana Azad became the first education minister between August 15, 1947, and February 2, 1958, under the government of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Due to his great contribution in establishing the education foundation in India, the birthday of Maulana Azad is celebrated as a National Education Day every year on November 11 across the country. Maulana Azad played an important role in the formation of the education system of India. He mainly concentrated on the education of rural poor children and girls. Maulana Azad also supports free education for those children who are under the age of 14. He was also awarded India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in the year 1992. Maulana Azad died at the age of 69 on February 22, 1958, in Delhi due to a stroke.

Early Life – Maulana Azad was born on November 11, 1888, in Mecca and his real name was Sayyid Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al Hussaini but he finally became popularly known as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Muhammad Khairuddin was the father of Maulana Azad who was a Bengali Muslim Scholar of Afghan ancestry and wrote 12 books and had thousands of disciplined that claimed noble ancestry. Sheikha Alia bint Mohammad was the mother of Maulana Azad who was a reputed or popular scholar from Medina, Saudi Arabia. Maulana Azad pursued traditional Islamic education and later settled with his family in Kolkata in the year 1890. After that, he was taught by his father at home and later was taught by several teachers from different fields. Later, he became a clergyman and wrote many books that also included reinterpreting the Holy Quran. Later, Maulana Azad was married to Zulaikha Begum at the age of 13 years old. Maulana Azad was the youngest person to serve or work as the President of the Indian National Congress in the year 1923.

Politics and struggle for Freedom of India – Later, Maulana Azad worked in the Congress working committee. He also worked as a general secretary and president of the Indian National Congress party. He developed a close relationship with Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in the year 1928 and started to support the idea of socialism to fight poverty, inequality, and several other national challenges. Maulana Azad was also the leader of the Khilafat Movement and came into close contact with Mahatma Gandhi. He was a great supporter of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas of non-violent civil disobedience movements. He has participated in several civil disobedience campaigns that were organized by Gandhi including the Salt Satyagraha movement. He was also involved in the Quit India Movement that was started on August 9, 1942, during the Second World War. Later, Maulana worked as the president of the Indian National Congress between 1940 and 1945 during the Quit India Movement

Death – Maulana Abul Kalam Azad died at the age of 69 years due to stroke on February 22, 1958.