Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958
The nation
has been celebrating the 123rd birth anniversary of Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad as the National Education Day of India. Maulana Azad was a great
visionary and institutional builder who served the country as a freedom
fighter, first Education Minister and in so many forms. He was actively
involved with the Indian Freedom Struggle Movement. After Independence of India
he became the first Education Minister of the country and continued till his
death. During his tenure, education in the country became universal for the
entire school going children, social education also started for adult
illiterates, gave preference to scientific and technical education and
understood the need to enrich the countries’ culture by encouraging and
providing facilities. He did set up A National Centre for the Blind at Dehra
Dun. He established a system of cultural scholarships to welcome the foreign
students to study in India too for cultural interactions. He encouraged the use
of audio-visual aids in imparting better education to the children.
During his
work he has appointed and established various institutions like University
Grant Commission (UGC) in 1953, Sahitya Academy in 1954, Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Kharagpur in 1951, Indian Institute of Science (II Sc.),
Bangalore, CSIR for scientific works, turned Visva Bharati Santiniketan as a
Central University in 1952, Established Central Institute of Education in 1947,
Indian Academy of Dance, Drama and Music in 1953, Lalit Kala Academy in 1954,
National Museum in 1947, All India Council for Teaching, Sangeet Natak Academy
and so on. These are the most prestigious institution today and holding the
education of India; It was Maulana’s vision 60 years back.
As he was
the first Education Minister of the country he had a great task to finish
because it was the initial period. The newly Independent India was demanding
its own identity. For that he felt the Indian languages need special attention
in the presence of the English language because the other Indian languages were
not developing in its presence. He suggested another way to develop these
languages and that was through the transformation of knowledge or the
translation of various developed language’s literature and books in the Indian
languages. In this way his contributions in nation building process are
historical and become source of inspiration in visualising the new India where
everybody will get equal opportunity and social justice for all. So, this is the right time to take inspiration from Maulana Azad and
unite altogether to challenge the all hegemonic and communal forces in whichever form it
exists.
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