Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Motilal Nehru: Making a companionship in the midst of political tension

Abstract

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Motilal Nehru both are the two important figures of our freedom struggle. Inspite of differed by their upbringing, by profession, by ideologies and also not at the same age, they made a precious bond and companionship during the critical year of politics. Both became close together during Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement and in 1923 when Maulan Azad presided over the special session of Congress and tried to make compromise between the two groups of Congress, Motilal Nehru was the one who supported and praised his efforts. In 1926 a communal riots, very violent clashes broke out between Hindus and Muslims sparked in the Bengal districts of Calcutta, Pabna and Dacca and later on other districs of Bengal. To overcome this communal tensions and established harmony between Hindus and Muslims, Motilal Nehru along with Maulana Azad drafted a manifesto, in the shape of circular letter named ‘The Nehru-Azad Manifesto’. Their bonding went to another level when Motilal Nehru shoed Nehru report in 1928 at the Congress session. Despite of being fulfilling the aspiration of Muslims, the Report did not enjoy the backing of entire Muslim Community. Among the Muslims, there were certain sections, which strongly felt that the said report compromised with the aspiration of Muslims. But here Maulana Azad had played a very beautifully role to make understand the Muslims the importance of this Report.