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The first education minister of India was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He was a renowned scholar, journalist, writer and an important leader of the Indian freedom movement. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was actively involved in both pre-independent India and post-independence era as a key figure from the Indian National Congress. His tenure as the first education minister of India lasted from 1947 to 1958 until he died. In this blog, let us get to know more about this important personality.
The First Education Minister of India: Role and Contribution
Born on November 11, 1888, in Mecca, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad received a traditional Islamic education before moving to Kolkata to pursue modern education. He was fluent in multiple languages and well-versed in various subjects, Azad had a deep knowledge of various subjects like history, philosophy and literature.
- After Independence in 1947, Azad was appointed as the first Education Minister by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
- During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to promote education for all regardless of caste, creed or gender.
- His contribution is highly regarded because of the establishment of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1953.
- He also laid the foundation for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), which are now globally recognised for their excellence.
- To promote India’s cultural heritage, he also set up institutions like Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is committed to unity and harmony, he emphasised on inclusive education, secularism and contribution to national development in independent India.
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This is all about the first education minister of India. For more content related to the different states of India, visit our articles like this, you can get Study notes on the Modern History of India here. Also, you can visit our general knowledge page on Indian History!