Maulana

Abul Kalam Azad Biography

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was prominent leader who
contributed actively in the Indian freedom struggle.
Quick Facts
Nationality

Indian

Born on

11 November 1888 AD

Zodiac Sign

Scorpio

Born in

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Died on

22 February 1958 AD

Spouse:

Zulaikha Begum

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the face of communal harmony

in modern India. A renowned scholar and an active political
leader, he had a charismatic personality right from the
beginning. So deep embedded was the willingness to participate
in the national struggle for independence that he gave up on his
clergyman profession and took to serving in the Indian

independence movement. Azad was profoundly inspired by

Gandhi and was an active supporter of the latters non-violence,
civil disobedience and non-cooperation movement. Unlike other
Muslim leaders, he condemned communal separation advocated
by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other Muslim leaders and
stressed on the fact that national freedom was of greater
importance than communal freedom. He worked for religious
harmony and became a staunch opponent of the partition. He
lived long not just to witness Indian Independence and the
subsequent Partition, but also served as free Indias first
Education Minister.
Childhood & Early Life
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born as Abul Kalam Ghulam
Muhiyuddin on November 11, 1888 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
to Maulana Muhammad Khairuddin and Zulaikha Begum.
Descendant of the eminent scholars of the Islamic religion,
learning and writing came naturally to young Azad. Since
an early age, he became multi-linguist, mastering
numerous languages such as Urdu, Hindi, Persian,
Bengali, English and Arabic. He received tutelage in
Hanbali fiqh, shariat, mathematics, philosophy, world
history and science.
A meritorious student, he was blessed with a strong
aptitude for knowledge that helped him stay ahead of his
contemporaries. At a young age, he brought out several
journals, served as an editor of the weekly Al-Misbah and
reinterpreted the holy Quran, the Hadith and the principles
of Fiqh and Kalam.
It was during this time that he developed radical political
views that were in contingent with the Indian nationalist
movement. He was critical of the British Raj and the
Muslims communal issues that he believed were not as
important as national freedom.
His visit to Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Turkey
reformed his belief and conviction and turned him into a

nationalist revolutionary. Upon returning to India, he was

influenced by prominent Hindu revolutionaries Sri
Aurobindo and Shyam Sundar Chakravarty and actively
participated in the national struggle for freedom.
Unlike other Muslim activists, he opposed the partition of
Bengal and rejected All India Muslim Leagues plea for
communal separatism. He was against the racial
discrimination meted out to the people of India.
Late r Life
Despite being trained as a clergyman, he did not take up
clerical duties and instead decided to work along with
Hindu revolutionaries in the freedom struggle. With time,
he accentuated the radical activities which were
concentrated in Bengal and Bihar, by spreading them all
over North India and Bombay.
In 1912, he started the Urdu weekly newspaper, Al-Hilal,
through which he openly attacked the British policies and
fervently wrote articles on Indian nationalism. T he
newspaper became a revolutionary mouthpiece publicizing
extremists ideals and views.
Interestingly, the rift created between the Hindus and
Muslims, which had stiffened in the wake of the issue of
separate communal electorates, got a breather as Al-Hilal
improved Hindu Muslim relations and encouraged youth to
fight for independence and Hindu-Muslim unity.
In 1914, with the stiffening of censorship due to the
establishment of Press Act, Al Hilal was banned. He then
started a new journal, Al Balagh which worked on the
same lines as Al Hilal, actively propagating nationalist
causes and communal unity.
T he threat posed by Al Balagh finally resulted in the
banning of the newspaper under the Defence of India
Regulations Act. He was arrested and imprisoned in a jail
in Ranchi where he remained until January 1, 1920.
Outrage and rebellion engulfed the political scenario of

the country when he was released as people strongly

resented the British policies that restricted civil liberties
and individual rights. He further aroused the Muslim
community by working in close association with the
Khilafat movement.
He joined hands with Gandhi-led Indian National Congress
and contributed in the Non-Cooperation Movement by
urging people to boycott everything British, from schools,
government offices and clothes to goods and services
He served as the elected president of the All India Khilafat
Committee. Along with other Khilafat leaders, he founded
the Jamia Millia Islamia institution in Delhi.
Inspired by Gandhi and the principles of life laid out by
Prophet Muhammad, he underwent a major transformation
in his personal life. He worked on the agenda of Gandhi,
deeply committing himself to ahimsa.
In 1923, he was elected as the Congress President, thus
becoming the youngest man ever to hold the post.
Following year, he headed the Unity Conference in Delhi
and worked to bridge the differences between Khilafat and
Swarajists.
He worked as an important national leader in the Indian
Congress and served as the member of the Congress
Working Committee, taking up the office of the president
and general secretary on various occasions. He travelled
extensively in India, promoting Gandhian vision and social
reforms.
In 1928, much against the views held by the Muslim
league leaders, he fully supported the report made by
Motilal Nehru, proposing constitutional reforms from Indian
opinions. He opposed the need for separate electorate as
demanded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and instead appealed
for a secular India, deprived of any communal differences.
In 1930, he was arrested for violation of salt law as a part
of Gandhis Salt Satyagraha along with several other
leaders. He was put in Meerut jail. In 1934, following the

Gandhi-Irwin Pact, he was released.

Following year, he helped organize the election under the
Government of India Act. Due to the large number of unelected members in the central legislature, he didnt the
1937 elections.
Over the years, he strongly condemned the Muhammad Ali
Jinnah and his contemporaries who called the Congress
rule as Hindu Raj. T hey strongly raised their voice and
called for the resignation of the Congress ministries.
In 1940, he was elected as the Congress president in the
Ramgarh session in the dawn of Muslim activities, which
advocated the need for a separate Muslim state. He
criticized and condemned religious separatism, stating the
need for preserving united India. He remained in the
position until 1946.
Meanwhile in 1942, he was arrested by the British along
with other Congress leaders due to their call for Quit India
Movement. He was imprisoned at the Ahmednagar Fort,
where he remained in complete isolation for about four
years.
At the dawn of Indian Independence, all political prisoners
were released and so was he. Subsequently, he led the
Congress in the elections for the new Constituent
Assembly of India.
Despite being a staunch opponent, during the partition, he
worked closely taking responsibility of the security of
Muslims in India. He toured the violence-affected zones of
Bengal, Bihar, Punjab and Assam and helped in
establishing refugee camps and providing food and
security.
Under Nehru administration, he also served as the Indias
first Minister of Education from 1947 to 1958. In the
profile, he laid emphasis on providing free and compulsory
education for all under 14, stressed on adult illiteracy,
advancement of secondary education and importance of
educating the poor and the women folks.

He laid a thrust on scientific education, established

numerous universities and called for institutions that
promoted research and higher studies. It was under his
ministerial-ship that the first IIT, IISc and the University
Grants Commission were established.
Aw ards & Achie v e m e nts
For his unsurpassable contribution as a nationalist
revolutionary, and his constant support for a vision of
united and free India, he was posthumously conferred with
the prestigious Bharat RatnaIndias highest civilian
awardin 1992.
Pe rsonal Life & Le gacy
Conforming to the customary practice of those days, he
married at a young age of thirteen to Zulaikha Begum.
He breathed his last on February 22, 1958 due to stroke.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the face of communal
harmony in modern India. Despite being a Muslim, he
strongly condemned communal separatism and was
against Muhammmad Jinnah and his viewpoints.
T he Government of India set up the Maulana Azad
Education Foundation in 1989 on his birth anniversary to
promote education amongst the socially backward class.
His birthday is celebrated every years as National
Education Day in India.
Numerous schools, colleges and institutions in India have
been named after him. He is celebrated as one of the
founders and greatest patrons of Jamia Milia Islamia
University.
Despite being born as Abul Kalam, he is best remembered
by the name Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana being
the honorific title advanced to him which means learned
man and Azad the pen name which he adopted.
Triv ia
He is famously remembered by the name Maulana Abul

Kalam Azad but interestingly this isnt the name he was

born with.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other Muslim leaders voiced
strongly against this Muslim leader s conflicting opinion
regarding communal separation and jeered at him by
calling him Muslim Lord Haw-haw and Congress
Showboy.
T his great leader shares his birthday with Acharya
Kripalani, who was also a prominent freedom fighter.
Whats more, Kripalani succeeded him as the President of
the Indian National Congress at the Meerut session.