Trivia

First Minister For Education And Human Resources Development of Independent India(1947-58).

Aged only 35, he is till date the youngest elected president of the Indian National Congress.

Shares both his birth date and year with fellow independence activist Jivatram Kriplani.

Had a long stand dislike for conservative Congress members like Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Vallabhbhai Patel.

His birthday is celebrated as "National Education Day" in India due to him being the first person to head the MHRD portfolio.

His grandniece Najma Heptullah served as Minister For Minority Affairs and was a nominee for the post of the Vice-president of Republic Of India. Ironically, Heptullah served her term as a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party, the biggest present day rival of Azad's Indian National Congress, and was nominated for Vice President by the same.

Although socialism happened to be an anathema to practicing Muslims such as Azad himself owing to it's criticism of religion altogether, Azad stood by Nehru's socialist policies as it was the only way of keeping him relevant in a cabinet comprised of far more senior and socially conservative ministers.

Held no academic credentials or even a college degree despite serving as the Education Minister of India for 10 years.

Was the only senior Congress leader to support Jawaharlal Nehru's candidature for the Prime Ministership of Independent India. However, he regretted his decision in the final years of his life.

His autobiography INDIA WINS FREEDOM was released in public domain as per his request on his birth centenary in 1988.

To everyone's shock, Azad was opposed to the ousting of the Ottoman Caliphate in Turkey despite the fact that the victorious Nationalists led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk were highly sympathetic to the cause of Indian independence. Azad did not change his stance even after reports of atrocities committed by the last Prime Minister of the Ottoman Empire Enver Pasha revealed the death toll amounted to approximately 2 million.

Was infamously called a "Congress Showboy" and a Muslim "Lord Haw-Haw" by Muslim League head and Pakistan's founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah during the most turbulent years post World War 2 leading up to the partition.

In his autobiography, he blamed Vallabhbhai Patel and even Jawaharlal Nehru for more readily accepting the Partition Plan than the Muslim League.

His closest confidant was his secretary Humayun Kabir who would also go on to serve in various ministries as a Congressman.

Was awarded India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, in 1991, 33 years after his death.