New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) The central government Monday launched a national portal on the 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first education minister, to inform people about his life and legacy.
This is the second such portal following the launch of a portal on Mahatma Gandhi on Oct 2. The government will launch a third portal on Jawaharlal Nehru, first prime minister of the country, on Children’s Day Nov 14.
“He was the father of the Indian education system and the younger generation should know about the contributions of our great leaders,” said Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan after the launch.
The portal is an initiative to digitise the heritage of the leader, who is credited with establishing a national education system and modern institutes of higher education, including the Indian Institutes of Technology.
Along with a biographical account on Maulana Azad, the portal contains titles and information on more than 20 books written on him.
Sam Pitroda, advisor to the prime minister on public information, said Maulana Azad’s contribution to the Indian education system has been forgotten.
“Very few of us know about the great contribution of Maulana Azad to higher education and the University Grants Commission. We take it for granted and do not know what it took for our great leaders to do it,” said Pitroda.
He said the portal will help people, especially youngsters, to know about his work and vision which became the foundation for the country’s education system.