Today i.e 11th of November, is birth anniversary of eminent Scholar, freedom fighter & a man who devoted his life towards nation building Sayyid Maulana Abul Kalam Muhiyuddin Ahmed Azad, popularly known by Abul Kalam Azad. He was an Indian scholar and a senior political leader of the Indian independence movement. He strongly opposed two nation's theory led by Jinnah during the Pre-Independence and during that time. During the independence, he stayed in India after refusing to go to Pakistan, and became the first Minister of Education in the Indian government. After the India's partition, Azad took up responsibility for the safety of Muslims in India, touring affected areas in Bengal, Bihar, Assam and the Punjab, guiding the organisation of refugee camps, supplies and security. Azad gave speeches to large crowds encouraging peace and calm in the border areas and encouraging Muslims across the country to remain in India and not fear for their safety and security. Amidst communal turmoil following the partition of India, he worked for religious harmony. As India's Education Minister, Azad oversaw the establishment of a national education system with free primary education and modern institutions of higher education. He is also credited with the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the foundation of the University Grants Commission, an important institution to supervise and advance the higher education in the nation.
Maulan Abul Kalam Azad was master in several languages, including Urdu, Hindi, Persian, Bengali, Arabic, and English. He was also trained in the Mazahibs of Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali fiqh, Shariat, mathematics, philosophy, world history and science by reputed tutors hired by his family. He died on 22 February 1958 at aged 69. In the year 1992, he was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
