Abul Kalam Azad and Ethno-Confessional Nationalism: Political Activity and Religious and Philosophical Quest

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the political activities and religious and philosophical views of an outstanding figure of the Indian national movement, one of the leaders of the influential Indian National Congress Party, its president during World War II, a staunch Muslim Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958) in the context of the problem of ethnic and confessional nationalism in India. Azad was an implacable fighter for the unity of India and an opponent of its partition. Together with Jawaharlal Nehru, he was the creator of the theory of Indian nationalism the entire population of Hindustan is one people. Azad believed that large political associations (states) were the most progressive, and humanity, sooner or later, would come to realize its unity. He believed that there were more similarities than differences in different religions, and considered Islam to be a religion of freedom. Using Indian and domestic sources and research, the author characterizes one of the least studied Indian politicians and thinkers in our country, an associate of Mahatma Gandhi, an opponent of the disintegration of the country along religious and confessional lines in 1947.