Ghulam Nabi Azad: A Veteran Statesman of Indian Politics

Ghulam Nabi Azad, born on 7 March 1949, is one of India’s most experienced and respected political leaders, known for his long and distinguished career in parliamentary democracy and governance. A prominent figure in national and Jammu and Kashmir politics, Azad served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 2014 to 2021 and as the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008.

Azad was born in the village of Soti in Gandoh tehsil (Bhalessa) of Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, to Rahamatullah Batt and Basa Begum. He received his early education locally before moving to Jammu, where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree from G.G.M. Science College. He later earned a Master’s degree in Zoology from the University of Kashmir in 1972, reflecting his strong academic grounding before entering public life.

His political journey began in 1973 as Secretary of the Block Congress Committee in Bhalessa. Rapidly rising through the ranks, he became President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress in 1975 and was appointed President of the All India Youth Congress in 1980. The same year, he was elected to the Seventh Lok Sabha from Washim constituency in Maharashtra, marking his entry into national politics.

Azad went on to hold several key ministerial positions at the Centre, including Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Civil Aviation, and Health and Family Welfare. As Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, he focused on governance, development, and stability, though his government ended in 2008 following the withdrawal of coalition support.

In August 2022, Azad resigned from the Indian National Congress and, on 26 September 2022, launched his own political outfit—the Democratic Progressive Azad Party—serving as its chief patron and founder. In recognition of his contributions to public affairs, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2022. In 2023, he was also appointed to a government committee tasked with suggesting reforms for simultaneous elections, underscoring his continued relevance in India’s public life.