Contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre and post-independent India

Maulana Azad pre-independence contribution: Maulana Azad became the leader of the Khilafat Movement during which he came into close contact with the Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi, Azad became an enthusiastic supporter of Gandhi’s ideas and worked in Noncooperation movement and in protests of Rowlatt Act. 

At the age of 35 years, he became the youngest person to become the President of Indian National Congress. Azad became the most prominent Muslim opponent of the demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan and served in the interim national government. 

In 1930, Maulana Azad was arrested for violation of the salt laws as a part of Gandhiji’s Salt Satyagraha. Maulana Azad’s post independence contribution 

• Azad took up the responsibility of safety of Muslims in India after partition by organising refugee camps, supplies and security. 

• As India’s first education Minister Azad masterminded the national programmes of school and colleges construction and spreading the enrolment of children and young adults into schools, to promote primary education. He emphasized on free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14, girls education, diversification of secondary education and vocational training. 

• Under his education ministership, the first Indian Institute of Technology and University Grants Commission were established in 1951 and 1953 respectively. He also emphasized on the development of Indian Institute of Science and Faculty of Technology of the Delhi University. 

• He supported Nehru in policy formulation regarding industrial and economic aspects as well as advancing social rights and economic opportunities for women and underprivileged Indians.