Naresh Nandam Ongole

Prakasamdistrict minorities’ welfare department and the district police celebrated Minorities Welfare Day and National Education Day, marking the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India and a Bharat Ratna awardee, at Ongole on Wednesday.

Prakasam Joint Collector Kalpana Kumari and other district administration officials paid floral tributes to Maulana Azad, garlanding his statue and leading the celebrations. Later, Kalpana Kumari garlanded Maulana Azad’s portrait at a program held at Prakasam Bhavan, along with students from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Mother Shah high schools.

She interacted with the students, who shared their views on Maulana Azad and their studies. Meanwhile, the district police paid tributes at the district police office. Additional SP for Administration N Yugandhar Babu and other officers garlanded Maulana Azad’s portrait. Speaking at the programme, Yugandhar Babu described Maulana Azad as a great educationist, poet and freedom fighter. He said Azad’s real name was Mohiuddin Ahmed, Abul Kalam was his title, and Azad was his pen name.