📚 @Evening: The 'Unwanted' First Education Minister

1. 📰 Catch Up

• The Supreme Court (SC) extended protection of 'Shivling' area at Gyanvapi mosque complex till further order in today's hearing.

• Another SC order that made it to the news was the premature release of six convicts serving life sentence in the assassination case of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.

• Aaditya Thackeray joined Rahul Gandhi in his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Maharashtra's Hingoli, while NCP chief Sharad Pawar skipped it citing health reasons.

• Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani are in the race among 13 firms to acquire debt-laden Future Retail Ltd (FRL).

• Himachal Pradesh is set to vote tomorrow for the assembly elections amid Election Commission reporting a seizure of 'record' liquor and cash meant to induce voters.

2. 🚂 Karnataka for Bharat Gaurav scheme

PM Narendra Modi flagged off Vande Bharat Express and Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan Train at KSR Railway Station, Bengaluru today.

• Running on the Mysuru-Chennai route, this will be the fifth Vande Bharat Express.

• Also, Karnataka became the first state to take up a train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme.

Bharat Gaurav Trains were launched in November 2021 by Indian Railways with the objective of showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage.

• Under this initiative, the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways will work together to send pilgrims from Karnataka to Kashi.

• The pilgrims will be provided comfortable stay and guidance for visiting Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj.

3. 📘 Book releasing this weekend

Life of an Industani is an autobiography of Shiv Kunal Verma.

• It is brutally honest, exhilarating and even self-deprecating.

• It provides an incredible ring-side view to critical events in the 1980s and 90s that shaped the destiny of the nation.

Shiv Kunal Verma is a military history writer who has written books like 1962: The War That Wasn't and 1965: A Western Sunrise.

• He has co-authored some other books like Northeast Trilogy and The Long Road to Siachen.

• His earlier works and his vast exposure to virtually every part of the subcontinent help him to unfold events in his recent book in a cinematic way.

4. ✈️ India-France exercise towards end

IAF aircrew was familiarised with aerial refuelling from a French Air and Space Force's (FASF) 330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

• IAF fighter aircraft later refuelled from the tanker during the second last day of the bilateral exercise Garuda VII.

• Such exercises will enhance interoperability between the French and the Indian air forces.

The previous day witnessed IAF and FASF chiefs taking to the skies in one of the multi-aircraft missions flown during Exercise Garuda.

• The unique flight provided the perfect overview of the Exercise to both Commanders.

• A few days ago, the two chiefs met in New Delhi to discuss ways and means to enhance bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

5. 📚 The 'unwanted' first Education Minister

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born on this day (11 November 1888) in Mecca of Saudi Arabia.

• He became the first education minister of India and his birthday is celebrated as National Education Day.

• However, many controversies surround him, especially because of his bigoted religious views and extremist ideology.

M.O. Mathai’s Reminiscences gives us some insights on Maulana Azad's character.

• MK Gandhi had written to Nehru "advising him not to make Maulana Azad the Education Minister as he was convinced that the Maulana would ruin education."

• Mathai also gives an account of Azad's drinking habits, for which he would often skip important meetings.

• "As a departmental minister, the Maulana was a disaster, as Gandhiji had feared. He made no contribution to education. He left everything to the trio — Humayun Kabir, KG Saidayin and Ashfaque Hussain."