Mushirul Hasan's book on Maulana Azad shatters myths on Islam

Niyogi Books’ latest offering Islam Pluralism Nationhood-legacy of Maulana Azad penned by the renowned author and historian Professor Mushirul Hasan’s was launched at an elegant function held in New Delhi, today. A panel discussion on “Islam Pluralism Nationhood-legacy of Maulana Azad” was also held on the sidelines, which explored Islam and its impact on the idea of a unified India.

On the occasion marking the 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Azad, Muchkund Dubey, President, Council for Social Development; Irfan Habib, Renowned Author and one of the most celebrated Historian India has ever produced; Syed Shahid Mahdi, Former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia University and an institution on Islam and Sirajuddin Qureshi, President, India Islamic Cultural Centre  were also present and took part in the panel discussion. K Natwar Singh, Indian politician and former cabinet minister presided over the function.

In an unconventional form of storytelling the book penned by Mushirul Hasan seeks to provide the thrill and opportunity of being a historian and an explorer, to each reader. A compilation of confidential facsimiles of notes, memos and letters, rich and varied, they unfold Azad’s story like never before.

The detailed ‘history sheets’ compiled by the Intelligence Bureau, are as informative as entertaining, conveying the tentativeness at the heart of an anxious and apprehensive government. The other documents reflect government policies in relation to the popular upsurge that had taken place in some parts of the country, an agitation that also drew Azad into the nationalist fold. Post-Independence communications on policies that were gradually shaping the young independent India also shed ample light on Azad’s robust conviction of combining the essence of Islam and pluralism in building a new nation.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, commonly remembered as Maulana Azad, rose to prominence through his work as a journalist, publishing works critical of the British Raj in the early 1920s. A powerful writer and an equally stimulating orator, his sway over the Muslim communities was considered a threat by the government which looked for every opportunity to clip his wings and restrain his activities.

Azad took these tribulations gracefully and came to play a very decisive role as a senior leader of the Independence movement. like his pen-name Azad, which meant free, here was a man who relentlessly strove to remove the shackles of incapacious thinking, challenging its rigidity, wisely integrating the munificence of Islam and pluralism into the folds of nationhood.

About the Author: Professor Mushirul, an internationally known historian and author and a Padmashree awardee, Mushirul Hasan has, among other notable contributions, explored the lives of the Congress Muslims, who survive on the margins of the dominant discourse on Indian nationalism. He is a biographer of Mohamed Ali, M.A Ansari and has published their correspondence and speeches. He has edited a collection of essays on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and co-authored a major biography of Jamia Millia Islamia. He has introduced the proceedings of the Indian National Congress, of which the first volume is already out. His much-awaited new book Political Prisoners, with Niyogi Books, is due to be published soon. Mushirul Hasan has served as Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, and as Director-General of the National Archives of India. Professor Hasan has recently been awarded the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship for his project—Roads to Freedom: Prison, Prisoners and Colonialism.

About Niyogi Books : Niyogi Books, a premier book publisher, has been regularly publishing books on Indian culture, religion, history along with biographies of eminent personalities. It has lately entered in the field of fiction. Recently, three of its titles won awards for ‘Excellence in Publishing’ instituted by the Federation of Indian Publishers. These include Mapping India, Rabindranath Tagore: A Pictorial Biography and M F Hussain: A Pictorial Tribute.