National Seminar on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and the National Education System by
National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) and
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) 11 and 12 November 2009
NMML
In the life of a nation, there come few leaders whose vision shapes its destiny. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is one such leader and to commemorate him, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) and Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) organized a two-day seminar on 'Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and the National Education System' at Teen Murti House on 11 and 12 November 2009.
In his inaugural address Shri Somnath Chatterjee, former speaker, Lok Sabha said, 'As a Minister of Education, Maulana Azad made unique contribution and stressed on the necessity of laying down policies and programmes for the speedy and all round, as well as, inclusive development of the educational facilities in the country. When he (Maulana) addressed the meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education in January, 1949, he spoke of the approach of the national government towards education. He stated that "the first and foremost task of the national government is the provision of free and compulsory basic education for all" and envisaged that universal compulsory basic education could be introduced within a period of 16 years by two five-year and one six-year plans'.
Maulana Azad stressed on the importance of basic education for the welfare of people. He emphasized on the importance of speedy progress of adult education and observed that without an educated electorate, democracy cannot perform the functions expected of it, noted the former speaker, Lok Sabha. Prof S. Irfan habib, who holds the Maulana Azad chair at NUEPA said, 'Education, with an emphasis on scientific and technical education, was always held dear by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, which he felt was indispensable for the development of a country colonized and exploited for over 150 years. Azad's educational perspective was fundamentally Islamic in inspiration, yet he synthesized happily anything of value anywhere. Azad was conscious of the fact that colonial education system, particularly the post-Macaulyan phase, had done tremendous harm to the Indian education, most importantly the medium of instruction. Azad firmly believed that provincial languages need to be developed to serve the purpose of medium of instruction'.
Eminent scholars presented research papers on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and different streams of national education systems and policies in India: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and the Beginnings in Education and Culture; Free and compulsory Education and the Right to Education Bill 2009; Images of Jamia; Challenges in the Writings of History Textbooks; Reflecting the Educational Philosophy of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and K.G. Saiyadain; Maulana Azad and Teacher Education; Madarsa Islamia, Ranchi: Maulana Azad's Experimentation with Madrasa Education; Looking Back at the Institutions of Art and Culture; Implications of the Choice of Medium of Instruction; Disadvantaged Groups, Democracy, Drop-out Rates and Curriculum Reforms; Dr Zakir Hussain's Notion of a modern University for India; Policy Processes in Higher Education and Evolution of Higher Education from UGC to HEC, respectively. While R. Govinda, vice chancellor, NUEPA extended a hearty welcome to the audience Mridula Mukherjee, director, NMML delivered the vote of thanks. Deepak Kumar, Arjun Dev, Dipankar Gupta, Mridula Mukherjee and Harsh Sethi chaired the various sessions of the seminar.
As a part of the seminar, the widely acclaimed solo play, 'Maulana Abul Kalam Azad' (scripted and directed by Dr Sayeed Alam) was staged by the veteran actor, Tom Alter. The play unfolds in the backdrop of Maulana Azad dictating notes to his friend and scribe Humayun Kabir for his book, India Wins Freedom. Joking about the impossibility of capturing the whole saga of the Indian freedom movement in a book, Maulana asks Humayun with the characteristic Urdu flourish: 'Humayun, why do you insist on holding a flowing stream captive in a well?' His complex analysis of the politics of the time is broken by some light-hearted conversation (about shorthand writers, jasmine tea and cigarettes), lines of Ghalib, interesting stories of his days in prison and his reveries of his wife. The audience seemed delighted to see Tom Alter play an aging Maulana to perfection.
