First Education Minister of India was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Quick Highlights

• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the first education minister of independent India,and his birthday, 11 November, is celebrated as National Education Day. 
• He was a supporter for education, a freedom fighter, a politician, and a journalist. 
•  When it comes to India's education, he left behind a great legacy over his more than four decades in the eye of the public. 
• He was incredibly intelligent, and his life was dedicated towards the advancement of education. 
• He believed that there is nothing more important than education itself.

Biography of Abul Kalam Azad

The details are tabulated below:

Education In India Before Independence

• The British Government made an effort to limit higher education only to students living in wealthy households. 
• Again, this was done for political purposes rather than in the interests of high-quality education. 
• Rules were created with the intention of limiting the spread of education generally and among the less fortunate students in particular. 
• There were strict and numerous requirements for grants to be recognized, and failure to do so had dire repercussions.  
• Given the circumstances of the lessons that were taking place in schools, the fee increases were unusual. 
• It was also argued that the minimal fee would put disadvantaged students through significant difficulty.  
• There was a predetermined charge in addition to a timetable, printed books, etc. 
• Regular school attendance was required, which was a challenge for children from rural households. 
• These regulations unquestionably had the effect of preventing the significant growth of schooling that would have occurred.

Education In India Post Independence

• It was difficult to deny Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's perspectives and contributions towards Indian Education. 
• His participation in the Constituent Assembly, which drafted India's constitution, led to his election as the first education minister of India. 
• During Maulana Azad's presidency, a number of initiatives were launched to encourage primary and secondary education, scientific education, the founding of universities and other institutions along with the promotion of research and graduate-level study options.
• Maulana Azad established a programme for providing financial assistance to several knowledgeable individuals in the nation who were unable to continue their literary pursuits because of financial hardships while serving in the Education Ministry. Leading and senior poets and journalists in the nation owe the late Maulana their old-age pensions as well.

Contributions of First Education Minister of India Maulana Abul Kalam

First Education Minister of India, Maulana Abul Kalam made significant and landmark contributions that shaped education in India for the coming age. Some of his remarkable achievement are:

University Grants Commission (UGC) Establishment

Among Azad’s biggest contributions was the establishment of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1953. The UGC was set up to:

• Look after higher education in India.
• Democratize universities and colleges by giving them assets.
• Develop quality and fulfilling higher education institutions

The UGC has remained a gatekeeping institution in maintaining standards and giving grants to universities in India. 

Developing Higher And Primary Education

Azad also believed that anyone from any background should be able to pursue education. His key initiatives in this area included:

• To minimize illiteracy Free and compulsory education of all children up to 14 years.
• Particularly on girls' education, because he understood the need to empower that community.
• Making Schooling and the associated education reach the furthest as much as possible to the rural areas and underprivileged.
• His vision later contributed to Article 45 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, calling for free and compulsory education.

Emphasis on Scientific and Technical Education

Recognizing the significance of science and technology in an ever-evolving world, Azad advocated for:

• The creation of technical institutes aimed at cultivating skilled professionals.
• The establishment of organizations such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to promote research initiatives in India.
• The implementation of scientific curricula in educational institutions to lay a solid groundwork for future generations.
• His emphasis on technical education contributed to India's emergence as a center for engineering, innovation, and scientific research in subsequent years.

Say in Establishment IITs and Other Higher Education Institutions

Azad was instrumental in the establishment of several leading educational institutions in India. Under his guidance, the government initiated the following:

• Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) – The first IIT was founded in Kharagpur in 1951, with subsequent institutes opening in Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Delhi. These institutions gained international acclaim for their engineering and technology programs.
• The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore – Evolved into a top-tier research institution.
• Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) – Enhanced India's academic and cultural connections with other nations.
• These institutions have been vital in nurturing scientists, engineers, and innovators who drive India's technological advancement.

Setting the Foundation for National Education Policies

Under Azad’s leadership, significant long-term policies were established that influenced India’s education system. Key developments included:

• The National Education Policy (1950s) – Focused on promoting literacy, vocational training, and technical education.
• Support for regional languages while keeping English as a medium for higher education.
• Enhancement of the Arts, Culture, and Humanities sector through the creation of organizations such as Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, and Sahitya Akademi to foster cultural heritage.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's legacy

While Maulana Azad lived a very impactful life, he left behind a great legacy. Referring to him as Mir-i- Karawan (the caravan leader), he was described by Jawaharlal Nehru as "a very bold and gallant person, a finished product of the culture that, in these days, relates to few." Azad was described as "a person of the quality of Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagorus" by Mahatma Gandhi. Multiple reforms were introduced in his association, such as the following: 

• Since, Maulana Azad firmly believed in the ability of all religious groups to coexist in harmony and his contributions to India's educational system are unparalleled, his birthday, November 11, is observed as National Education Day.
• The Ministry of Minority Affairs of the Central Government of India established the Maulana Azad Education Foundation in 1989 to advance education among the illiterate sectors of society. 
• The Ministry also offers students from minority populations the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Fellowship, an integrated five-year fellowship that gives financial support for them to pursue advanced degrees like the M. Phil. and PhD. 
• The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy, is a sporting honour given by the Indian Republic.
• One of the Jamia Millia Islamia's founders and staunchest supporters, he is revered. 
• In Delhi, Azad's grave lies next to the Jama Masjid. 
• The Delhi High Court mandated the renovation and restoration of Maulana Azad's mausoleum in New Delhi as a significant national landmark on November 16, 2005. 
• He received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, posthumously in 1992.

Colleges Named After Maulana Azad

There have been many institutions across India that have been named after Maulana Azad in his honor. Some of them are listed below-

Related Articles:

Complete List of Education Ministers of India Since Independence 

The Ministry of Education (MoE) holds accountability for implementing the policy decisions of of the National Policy on Education in India. At present, the position is held by Dharmendra Pradhan, a member of the Council of Ministers. Since 1947, there has been a Ministry of Education in India. The Rajiv Gandhi government changed the name to the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 1985; following the introduction of the "National Education Policy 2020" by the Narendra Modi government, the Ministry of Human Resource Development was again renamed the Ministry of Education. The details of all the education ministers are tabulated below: