Published 18:01 IST, November 11th 2019
National Education Day: India remembers Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
National Education is celebrated on November 11 in India to celebrate the birth anniversary of India's first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
India celebrates National Education Day on November 11 since 2008 to observe the birth anniversary of India's first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Popularly called Maulana Azad, he was the mind behind India's top educational institutions such as IITs, IISc and the School of Architecture and Planning. Maulana Azad can also be credited for the establishment of apex bodies such as the UGC (University Grants Commission) and AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education).
India's first Education Minister
Having set up premier institutions and apex bodies, Azad was also credited for promoting culture and literature through the medium of education. He was the visionary behind many of the cultural and literary academies such as the Sahitya and the Lalit Kala Academy.
Even after India had achieved Independence, Maulana was of the opinion that a large number of people in India were still illiterate and that is why he fought for adult literacy programs. He also emphasized the importance of vocational training and diversification of secondary education.
Remembering the freedom fighter
Maulana Azad's birth anniversary witnessed many leaders remembering the education minister and remember his role in nation-building. Indian Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu posted a tweet stating that he along with the entire country remembered the first Education Minister, freedom fighter and someone who played a crucial role in Nation building on his birth anniversary.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar tweeted that the National Education Day was celebrated in his memory.
In order to commemorate Maulana Azad's birth anniversary, CBSE (Central Board of Senior Secondary Education) had ordered all of the affiliated schools to celebrate by conducting seminars, essay writing and elocution competitions, workshops alongside rallies with banners and slogans emphasizing the importance of education.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 18:26 IST, November 11th 2019