RIYADH — India’s National Education Day was celebrated in Riyadh to commemorate the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter and the country’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

The program was jointly organised by Osmania University Alumni Association Riyadh and Hindustani Bazme Urdu.

Dr. Hifzur Rahman, first secretary at the Embassy of India, was the chief guest. Siraj Wahab, managing editor of Arab News, delivered the keynote address.

Hifzur Rahman remembered the contribution of Maulana Azad to the freedom movement and his services to the nation as the first education minister of independent India.

Hifzur Rahman talked about the famous speech the maulana delivered at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi in 1948. He also quoted some of the famous letters the maulana wrote to various leaders of India. The letters are a valuable part of the legacy of India’s independence movement.

Hifzur Rahman congratulated both Osmania University Alumni Association and Hindustani Bazme Urdu for organising this event.

Siraj Wahab, in his keynote speech, highlighted the maulana transformation from a religious scholar to a great freedom fighter. He mentioned how Azad had inspired Indian Muslims to reject the two-nation theory. He also recalled the contributions of Azad in the field of education and how his vision helped India excel in education in the post-independent era.

Principal of Riyadh’s International Indian School Dr. Shoukat Pervez, a winner of the president’s medal for services in the field of education, was felicitated on this occasion.

President of Osmania University Alumni Association Riyadh Mohammed Quaser welcomed the guests. In his welcome address, Quaiser said Maulana Azad was the architect of the modern education system in India. No one can deny his rich contributions to strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity in the country, he said.

President of Hindustani Bazme Urdu Abdur Rahman Saleem, an architect, presided over the function. In his presidential speech, Saleem touched upon the various aspects of Maulana Azad’s life before and after independence. Taqiuddin Mir, treasurer of OUAAR and chairman of an educational event conducted on the occasion, presented a detailed report of an essay writing contest for the students of all CBSE schools on the topic, “The advantages of Maulana Azad’s educational vision in contemporary India.”

Students from International Inidan Scool (Girls), Delhi Public School (DPS), Yara International School, New Middle East International School, International Indian Public School (SEVA) and Modern Middle East International School participated in the competition.

OUAAR Secretary Shahbaz Farooqui conducted the proceedings while Vice President Mohammed Mubin proposed the vote of thanks.

Rifa Habeeb, Reem Haque and Rahma Shah from International Indian School Riyadh stole the show with their oratorical skills.

The winners of the essay writing competition were felicitated at the event.

Nandana Joy of Delhi Public School won the first prize while the second prize was shared by Nihala Khanam Pilath of SEVA School and Shiva Aruneshini of New Middle East International School. The third prize went to K.N. Nasruddin of Yara International School.

Mohammed Khaled (Yara), Ammarah Begum (DPS) and Binish Fatima (Yara) were presented consolation prizes.

The cream of the Indian community in Riyadh attended the program, which started with the recitation of Qur’an by Hafiz Aleemuddin and a nath-e-rasool by Umme Ammarah Aleena and Ummul Fazal Bushrah. — SG