RAS question
The newspaper 'Al-Hilal' was edited by:
Correct answer: (C) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Al-Hilal was edited by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who edited the Urdu weekly from 1912.
Explanation
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's editorship of Al-Hilal belongs to his role in nationalist journalism, not merely to his later political career. Al-Hilal was the Urdu weekly edited by Azad in 1912, and it became a forceful voice for Indian nationalism and Hindu-Muslim unity. The publication sequence is also important. Once Al-Hilal was banned, Azad continued his public intervention through Al-Balagh in 1915. His later presidency of the Congress from 1940 to 1946 reinforces that this was part of a longer nationalist career, while Al-Hilal remains tied to Azad.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Maulana Muhammad Ali did not edit Al-Hilal; he was associated instead with The Comrade.
- (B) Hasrat Mohani was a different nationalist and literary figure, while Al-Hilal was edited by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
- (D) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was associated with different publications, not with Azad's Al-Hilal.
Concept
Nationalist journalism is part of the modern Indian freedom movement. RAS often uses newspapers to connect leaders, political ideas, and anti-colonial mobilisation in a compact factual frame.