New Delhi, Nov 11: Rich tributes were paid to freedom fighter and country's first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his 114th birth anniversary today. Paying homage, Congress president and leader of the opposition Sonia Gandhi said his idea of Hindu-Muslim unity was still relevant.
"We can strengthen the country by following his idea of Hindu-Muslim unity forged during the country's freedom struggle," she said.
Recounting his contributions, she described him as a multi-faceted personality, a great thinker, poet, writer and a statesman whose achievements could not be overlooked.
Taking a dig at the present ruling coalition, she said, "some elements want to change the basic nature of the society for capturing power, and do not hesitate to harm the country".

"Today the country is going through difficult times and the human values established at great cost are being destroyed", Gandhi said.
Earlier in the day floral tributes were offered at his mausoleum by Rajya Sabha chairperson Dr Najma Heptullah and senior citizens.
Vijay Goel, minister of state in the Prime Minister's office, while hailing Azad's contributions, lamented that the people were ignorant about his works as most of these were in Urdu.
His grand-nephew and Muslim educationist Firoz Bakht Ahmed said the country needed more politicians of the stature of Maulana Azad. Bureau Report