Skip to main content

Maulana Azad, Nahru-Gandhi compatriot, "remains" neglected, no major leader cares to visit mausoleum

By Our Representative
A commemorative event organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, on the occasion of the 58th death anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (February 22), speakers made it an occasion to remind the Government of India the great patriot, who stood by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru during the freedom struggle, remains “neglected”.
Organized at the mausoleum, situated in Jama Masjid complex in Delhi, the speakers particularly sought the intervention of Najma Heptulla, Minority Affairs Minister, Modi government, present on the occasion, to ensure that his legacy remains alive and flourishes.
Speaking on the occasion, Heptulla stated that Azad “visualized a new world of free nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America without economic exploitation that sucked out their lifeblood.”
Firoz Bakht Ahmed, Azad’s grandnephew and social activist, said it was a matter of concern that people like Maulana Azad, among many other patriots, remain “completely forgotten and sidelined”.
Insisting that India needs politicians of the stature of Azad whose knowledge in philosophy, Islamic ideology and Indian culture was encyclopedic”, he lamented that top people from the government refuse to visit the mausoleum on remember Azad, because it remains “a picture of neglect”.
He added, the mausoleum is surrounded by “filth and dirt all over, besides illegal encroachment by the tehbazaari (squatters)”, and the government has paid “no attention to this.”
Following my PIL in the Delhi High Court in 2005 to open the lock of the mazar and prevent illegal squatters from encroaching its walls, the mausoleum was opened. However, even today it remains neglected to visitors at the Jama Masjid complex.
On a black marble a part of Maulana’s historic address of 1940 has been inscribed: “I am proud of being an Indian. I am part of the invisible unity that is Indian nationality. I am indispensable to this noble edifice and without me this splendid structure of India is incomplete. I am essential element which has gone to build India. I can never surrender this claim.”
Bahar Barqui, a senior lawyer, pointed towards what he called a “serious void of devoted Muslim leadership”, regretting, there is none who emulates Maulana Azad in order to “truly represent Indian Muslims.”
He added, “Though born in a predominantly Hindu environment, Azad was bold enough to propagate nationalism to Muslims at variance with the prevalent political consciousness based on communalized politics.” 
Social activist Maulana Aleemuddin Asadi said Maulana Azad’s writings must be “made popular”, adding, “The only solution to the communal virus today is to follow the Azad formula.”
He insisted, “Maulana’s watchword was assimilation at all levels. Muslims of India must understand that their existence is linked to that of the Hindus and that the Hindus must cooperate with the Muslims for if the Muslims of India remain backward, India can’t progress.”
Well-known journalist, Shahid Siddiqui, editor of “Nai Duniya”, said that the Muslim community in India unfortunately gets “carried on by issues like the Shah Bano Case, the Talaq issue or the Babri Masjid imbroglio, and it must make it a point to follow Maulana Azad for its educational uplift.”
Floral tribute to Maulana Azad was paid by ICCR director-general C Rajashekhar, recalled, Maulana Azad’s wanted to “preserve India’s unity as an undivided nation”, even though failed because he got little support from his compatriots”, adding, he would overhaul the CCCR library to convey the vision of Maulana Azad to the youth.
ICCR is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India’s external cultural relations through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples. It was founded on 9 April 9, 1950 by Maulana Azad, who was also Independent India’s first Education Minister. Heptulla was associated with ICCR in the past as its head.

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

Golwalkar's views on tricolour, martyrs, minorities, caste as per RSS archives

By Shamsul Islam*  First time in the history of independent India, the in-charge minister of the Cultural Ministry in the current Modi government, Prahlad Singh Patel, has glorified MS Golwalkar, second supremo of the RSS and the most prominent ideologue of the RSS till date, on his birth anniversary, February 19. In a tweet he wrote : “Remembering a great thinker, scholar, and remarkable leader #MSGolwalkar on his birth anniversary. His thoughts will remain a source of inspiration & continue to guide generations.”

'Pro-corporate agenda': Odisha crackdown on tribal slum dwellers fighting for land rights

By Our Representative  The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning what it calls “brutal repression” on the Adivasi slum dwellers of Salia Sahi in Bhubaneshwar by the Odisha police, has said that the crackdown was against the tribals struggling for land rights in order to “stop the attempts at land-grab by the government.”

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma*  Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some  recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.