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Abul Kalam Azad
Abul Kalam Azad was born on 11 November 1888 in Mecca. He was a great scholar, journalist, educationist and freedom fighter. From a very young age he was of revolutionary leanings and was fiercely critical of exploitative policies of the British.
He entered into journalism and openly attacked British Government for ant-India policies; at the same time, he also wrote about the need for Hindu-Muslim unity in the fight against British; in 1912, he started a weekly newspaper Al-hilal.
Later on, he supported the Khilafat Movement and came into the contact of Gandhi ji. And after getting influenced by him, Azad joined the Indian National Congress. He became the youngest President of the Indian National Congress in 1923. Azad played very significant role in several movements initiated by Gandhi ji such as Namak Satyagrah, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement etc. He always appealed and worked for Hindu-Muslim unity and remained critical of such Muslim and Hindu leaders who played communal politics.
He was a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly and after Independence became the first Education Minister of India. Maulana Azad played important role in shaping India’s education system; he was instrumental in setting up of several institutions of higher learning such as IITs in 1951, University Grant Commission in 1953, Central Institute of Education Delhi etc.
Apart from these, Maulana Azad was also a poet and a writer; his classic book India Wins Freedom is one of best accounts of India’s freedom struggle. He died on 22 February 1958; for his immeasurable contribution in making of modern Indian nation he was awarded posthumously the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
Bharat Ratna Award
The highest civilian award of the Republic of India is known as BHARAT RATNA. It came into existence on 2nd January 1954. The award was in recognition of extraordinary performance in the field of literature, science, public services, and arts only. This award belongs to all people of India without any discrimination of sex, race, and age. Previously award belonged to only limited criteria but in December 2011 the criteria were changed to include all fields of human endeavour.
Maximum 3 nominees may be awarded per year and recommendations for the same are specially made by the PM to the President. A Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion in the shape of a peepal leaf are the only two things being given to the recipients; no money is granted with the award.
In the Indian order of precedence, the Bharat Ratna award comes in the seventh position. But Bharat Ratna recipients are constitutionally prohibited to use the award name as the title as per Article 18 of the Constitution of India.
Since 1954, 44 distinguished individuals have been awarded this prestigious and highest civilian award in the country.
