Finance Minister
Shri P.Chidambaram releases a Commemorative Coin of Rs. 20 and a Circulation
Coin of Rs.5 to mark the Culmination of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Maulana
Abul Kalam Azad; Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was an Indian and A Muslim; a
Nationalist, Patriot and Totally Secular :FM
The
Union Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram released a Commemorative Coin of Rs.
20 and a circulation coin of Rs.5 to mark the culmination of the 125th Birth
Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad at a function held here today. Shri K.
Rehman, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Wazahatt Habibullah,
Chairman, National Commission for Minorities, Dr Arvind Mayaram, Secretary,
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Members of Parliament and
other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance were present on the occasion
among others.
This
year marks culmination of 125th Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Maulana Azad was one of India’s most prominent freedom fighters, who espoused
the cause of an undivided India. He opposed the ‘two nation theory’ of Muslim
League and was a leading proponent of Hindu-Muslim unity. He was India’s first
Minister of Education. He was posthumously awarded country’s highest civilian
award, the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
Following is the Text of the Speech of the Union
Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram made on this occasion:
“Today we mark the 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The Government of India and, in particular, the Ministry of Finance are honoured to be able to bring out two commemorative coins on this occasion.
The
history of the freedom struggle is also the story of many great men and women.
Among the tallest of those men and women was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It is
widely acknowledged that he, as the first Minister of Education, laid the
foundation of the modern education system. The institutions that he founded
bear testimony to his vision and his farsightedness. Among them were the first
Indian Institute of Technology, University Grants Commission, Indian Council
for Cultural Relations, Sahitya Academy, Lalit Kala Academy, Sangeet Natak Academy
and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Maulana Azad made a significant contribution to the recording of history through his book “India Wins Freedom”. History cannot be bent. Historical facts are sacred. I thought the best tribute to Maulana Azad would be to read excerpts from his autobiography that will throw light on a sad chapter of India’s history, namely, the partition of India. These portions would also be a lesson in history to all those who participate in public discourse.
Maulana Azad writes:
“A
truly pathetic situation had developed as a result of the Congress mistake in
giving Finance to the Muslim League. This had led to the deadlock which gave
Lord Mountbatten the opportunity of slowly preparing the ground for the
partition of India. As he began to give a new turn to the political problem he
tried to impress on Congress the inevitability of partition, and sowed the seeds
of the idea in the minds of the Congress Members of the Executive Council.
Lord
Mountbatten was extremely intelligent and could read the minds of all his
Indian colleagues. The moment he found (Sardar Vallabhai) Patel amenable to his
idea, he put out all the charm and power of his personality to win over the
Sardar.
As
soon as the Sardar Patel had been convinced, Lord Mountbatten turned his
attention to Jawaharlal. Jawaharlal was not at first at all willing and reacted
violently against the very idea of partition, but Lord Mountbatten persisted
till step by step Jawaharlal’s opposition was worn down. Within a month of Lord
Mountbatten’s arrival in India Jawaharlal, the firm opponent of partition had
become, if not a supporter, at least acquiescent towards the idea.
When
I became aware that Lord Mountbatten was thinking in terms of dividing India
and had persuaded Jawaharlal and Patel, I was deeply distressed. I realised
that the country was moving towards a great danger.
Now
that Sardar Patel and even Jawaharlal Nehru had become supporters of partition,
Gandhiji remained my only hope.
Later
that day (31 March) Gandhiji met Lord Mountbatten. He saw him again the next
day and still again on 2 April. Sardar Patel came to him soon after he returned
from his first meeting with Lord Mountbatten and was closeted with him for over
two hours. What happened during this meeting I do not know. But when I met
Gandhiji again, I received the greatest shock of my life, for I found that he
too had changed. He was still not openly in favour of partition but he no
longer spoke so vehemently against it. What surprised and shocked me even more
was that he began to repeat the arguments which Sardar Patel had already used.
For over two hours I pleaded with him but could make no impression on him.
The
details of Lord Mountbatten plan were not yet published, but I guess that it
would entail the partition of India. He returned to Delhi on 30 May and on June
2 held discussions with the representatives of the Congress and the Muslim
League. On the 3rd of June a White Paper was issued which gave all the details
of the plan. The Statement of the British Government will be found in the
Appendix and I need only say that my worst fears were realised. The price for
freedom was the partitioning of India into two States.
The
publication of this Statement meant the end of all hopes for preserving the
unity of India. This was the first time that the Cabinet Mission Plan was
discarded and partition accepted officially. In trying to explain why the
Labour Government changed its attitude, I came to the painful conclusion that
its action was governed more by consideration of British than Indian interests.
The AICC met on 14 June 1947. I have attended many meetings of the AICC but this was one of the strangest that it was my misfortune to attend. Congress, which had always fought for the unity and independence of India, was now considering an official resolution for the division of the country.
When
the resolution was put to the vote, 29 voted for it and 15 against. Even
Gandhiji’s appeal could not persuade more members to vote for the partition of
the country!
The resolution was no doubt passed, but what was the condition of the people’s minds? All hearts were heavy at the idea of partition. Hardly anyone could accept the resolution without mental reservations. Even those who accepted the partition had all their feelings against it.”
A fair reading of the above account will show that partition was forced upon the country due to the intransigence of Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten’s plan to safeguard British interests.
These excerpts from the book are a measure of the man that was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He was an Indian and a Muslim. He was a nationalist, patriot and totally secular. More than anyone else he was able to foresee the consequences of the two-nation theory. He was a passionate advocate, until the very last, of the unity of India. He was able to reflect the true feelings of millions of people both within and outside the Congress party. He had always fought for the unity and independence of India and for love and brotherhood among all communities, particularly between Hindus and Muslims.
As
we remember him today, let us also remember his work, his words, his actions
and his legacy.
I
have the honour to release these commemorative coins”.
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