“The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it.” – Voltaire
We, the citizens of India, owe an enormous debt to the contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It feels like his extraordinary legacy was sidelined in subsequent governments, and in that omission, we’ve lost a national gem. There is an urgent need to reclaim his rightful honor, which fills me with profound respect and admiration for his rich character. Azad was among those few Muslim leaders who dedicated their lives to the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity. I sometimes feel so spiritually connected to his ideals that I momentarily forget about the roles played by Pandit Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and others. The depth and calmness in his eyes, visible in every photograph, is genuinely moving. The tenderness of his heart and the softness of his speech seem to radiate from his kind face. Azad was a person who truly grasped the message of the Holy Qur’an, advocating for tolerance and composite nationalism. He was a fierce critic of Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s views on Indian society and refused to accept the partition plan right until the very end. The Partition of India struck him as a devastating blow. Some accounts suggest that he went into such deep grief that he neither spoke nor ate for three days straight. He questioned why the monumental efforts to unify and free India from British domination had ultimately failed. Like all others, he was eventually forced to accept fate unwillingly, but his pain was immense.
Azad didn’t just disagree with Partition; he accurately predicted its destructive nature for Muslims in the long run. He argued that the creation of Pakistan was inherently unstable for several clear reasons. He prophesied that the cultures, traditions, and languages of the Eastern and Western wings were so divergent that they would soon grow intolerant of one another. The fact that the two parts did not share land or borders would make the government struggle to function cohesively. Citing these reasons, he essentially foretold that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan would face severe, destabilizing internal conflicts. Beyond Pakistan itself, he raised a point that is tragically relevant to both nations: both Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan have countless sects within their own respective religions. He warned that this internal intolerance would lead to societal and political instability. Finally, he indicated that while the immediate problems might be subdued for a short period, the border disputes, war-like situations, and heightened tensions between the two nations would forever be in constant motion, defying easy resolution.
Azad was also keenly aware that a partition, no matter how meticulously executed on paper, was practically impossible. Hindus and Muslims lived together in every village, making it virtually impossible to separate everyone with precision. He predicted that the minorities left behind, the Hindu minority in Pakistan and the Muslim minority in India, would remain in constant fear, insecurity, and persecution. The question often arises: was religion itself the source of all this evil? The true answer is a definitive no. Maulana Azad clarified this phenomenon perfectly. He argued that it’s not necessary that any act performed in the name of religion will always align with its core principles. As Pandit Nehru once remarked, he was a major critic of organized religion, as it often becomes a victim of political influence and lacks the core element of true spirituality. We have countless historical examples proving how political actors use religion as a tool to control the masses. This is where the study of anthropology becomes vital. It helps us achieve a foundational understanding of how different civilizations progressed and allows us to compare a variety of viewpoints. This approach develops a habit of thinking critically, trains the mind to reason effectively, and helps us form conclusions, ultimately enabling us to appreciate the contributions of our ancestors and correct our wrongdoings.
Maulana Azad was India’s first Education Minister, and his depth of knowledge and visionary approach to curriculum proved revolutionary. Some argue that India’s education system is totally flawed, but I don’t think so. The structure of education is sound; the flaws are in us, in how we, our parents, our teachers, and our society approach it. If all we care about are grades, jobs, degrees, and exams, we aren’t going anywhere. A structure can guide us, but it’s up to us how we make the best use of it. Azad himself was an autodidact. His philosophy was clear: “Learning is a continuous and enjoyable process.” If we genuinely adopt this attitude, then I promise you, our education system is the best. Unfortunately, I’m disillusioned by today’s educational climate in our country. We’ve literally destroyed the love of learning. This is the sole reason I stepped back and dropped out. I study on my own, guided by open curiosity. The message is simple: life’s too short to get trapped in the rat race. Let’s remember that spirit of endless inquiry, the same spirit embodied by Azad, and perhaps, as Steve Jobs urged, we can all “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.”
Notice – This article is a chapter from Glimpses of My Worldview (2025). It is being republished here on my blog as part of a complete serialization of the work.