NEW DELHI — In honour of first Education Minister of Independent India and freedom fighter, leaders from across the party lines paid rich tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on Wednesday, November 11, on his birth anniversary. The day is observed as National Education Day
Remembering Maulana Azad’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle, secularism and the development of the education system, Congress President Mallikarjun Khargerich paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
In a post on X, Kharge described Azad as “a towering freedom fighter, visionary statesman, eminent scholar, Former Congress President, and Independent India’s first Education Minister.” He added, “On his birth anniversary, we pay our heartfelt tributes to Bharat Ratna Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.”
Kharge highlighted Azad’s dedication to secularism, national unity and inclusive education, stating, “An ardent champion of secularism, national unity, and inclusive education, Maulana Azad laid the foundations of an India where knowledge empowers every citizen and diversity remains our greatest strength.” He further remarked that Azad’s ideals continue to inspire the Congress Party’s vision of a progressive and inclusive India.
Extending greetings on X, formerly Twitter, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also paid tribute to Azad, emphasising his impact on education, equality, national unity and institution-building.
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra remembered Azad’s role in establishing modern education in India. He said, “On the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of India and a recipient of the ‘Bharat Ratna’, a staunch supporter of the principles of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, we pay our deepest respects to him.”
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi announced that the Minority Affairs Department would honour Azad by offering floral tributes at his grave near Jama Masjid, ANI reported.
Nationalist Congress Party Rajya Sabha MP Parth Ajit Pawar highlighted Azad’s role in educational and cultural development, particularly his efforts to promote higher education, scientific research, technical education and cultural institutions.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also paid rich tributes to freedom fighter and India’s first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary.
“The contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a freedom fighter, a great scholar, and India’s first Education Minister, who worked tirelessly to develop the country’s education system, will be remembered forever. His life and ideals will continue to inspire future generations. I pay tribute to this great man on his birth anniversary,” Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said in a post on ‘X’.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also paid tributes to Maulana Azad. “Education is not just the path to individual success; it is the foundation upon which a progressive, inclusive and empowered society is built. On National Education Day, I pay my humble tributes to Bharat Ratna Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Ji, whose vision recognised education as the most powerful instrument for nation-building and social transformation,” he said, IANS reported.
“Every child, irrespective of their background or where they are born, deserves access to quality education, knowledge and equal opportunities. Our responsibility is to nurture young minds, encourage scientific temper, promote innovation and empower the next generation to think independently, dream fearlessly and contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.
“As part of this commitment, through our Panchayat Raj and Rural Development initiatives, we are strengthening rural roads and last-mile connectivity so that children in remote and tribal habitations can reach schools more easily. Through the Environment and Forest sectors, we are working to protect the natural resources they will inherit, while promoting science and technology as essential drivers of a knowledge-driven future. Let us build a society where every child has the opportunity to learn, every young mind has the freedom to explore, and every dream has the support to become a reality,” said Pawan Kalyan, who is also the minister for Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Science & Technology.
Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh also paid tributes to the great visionary Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He said Maulana Azad believed that individual growth and national development are possible only through education.
“His services to the nation as India’s first Education Minister, a freedom fighter and an educationist, are unforgettable. I extend my best wishes on the occasion of the Minorities Welfare Day and National Education Day being observed to mark Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s birth anniversary,” added Lokesh.
