1912
Al-Hilal
Used Urdu journalism to spread anti-colonial and reformist ideas.
Stories of achievement, courage and contribution
Islamic scholar, journalist and senior Congress leader who became independent India’s first Education Minister and helped shape its institutions of learning, culture and science.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born in Mecca in 1888 and grew up in Calcutta in a scholarly family. He developed a reputation for intellectual independence and an early engagement with anti-colonial politics.
Through publications such as Al-Hilal, Azad criticised British rule and encouraged political awakening. He later became a senior Congress leader and one of the strongest advocates of Hindu-Muslim unity and a united India.
After independence, Azad served as India’s first Education Minister. His tenure was associated with expanding higher education, scientific and technical institutions, and national cultural academies.
Azad was born on 11 November 1888 and later grew up in Calcutta.
He launched the Urdu newspaper that made him a major political voice.
Azad became one of the youngest presidents of the Indian National Congress.
He led the Congress through a critical wartime period.
Azad was imprisoned with other Congress leaders.
He became independent India’s first Education Minister.
Azad died on 22 February 1958.
Azad saw education, culture and scientific learning as foundations of democratic citizenship, not merely as services delivered by the state.
His ministerial years helped lay the groundwork for national institutions that expanded higher education, technical training and cultural life.
Education • Unity • Institution BuildingUsed Urdu journalism to spread anti-colonial and reformist ideas.
Became a major national political figure at a young age.
Led the party through war, imprisonment and negotiations.
Consistently opposed communal division and partition.
Became independent India’s first Education Minister.
Received the honour posthumously.
Azad strongly opposed partition and argued for a shared Indian nationalism that could include multiple religious communities.
The failure of that political vision is an important part of his story, but it also explains why unity remained central to his public legacy.
National Education Day is observed on Azad’s birthday, reflecting the strength of his association with learning and institution-building.
His name remains attached to universities, academies and scholarships across India.
Biographical reference on Azad’s political and educational career.
View source →Official portal for India’s education system and institutions.
View source →Government-supported historical and cultural repository.
View source →He was born on 11 November 1888 in Mecca.
He launched the Urdu newspaper Al-Hilal in 1912.
He served as president in 1923 and again from 1940 to 1946.
He became India’s first Education Minister.
Yes. He received it posthumously in 1992.
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