Every year on November 11, 2020, in India. This day is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He had served the country as the first Minister of Education in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet from 1947 to 1958.
Former President of India Pratibha Patil had inaugurated the first National Education Day celebrations on November 11, 2008, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The first Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kharagpur, was established by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
In his address to the first meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), Maulana Azad said: "The primary aim of any system is to create balanced minds which cannot be misled."
Apart from IIT Kharagpur, University Grants Commission (UGC) other institutes which were established by Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad are:-
In 1992, Maulana Azad was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award - Bharat Ratna.
Who was Maulana Abdul Azad?
Maulana was a reformer and a freedom fighter who fought for the freedom of India against the Britishers. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was not just a scholar but devoted to building India through education.
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad was the first education minister of independent India. He served the nation from August 15, 1947, to February 2, 1958.
Education Day: Ministry of HRD’s announcement:-
The Ministry of Human Resource Development announced on September 11, 2008, "The Ministry has decided to commemorate the birthday of this great son of India by recalling his contribution to the cause of education in India.”
“November 11 from 2008 onwards, will be celebrated as the National Education Day, without declaring it a holiday, every year," added the HRD ministry.
Education Day importance and how it is celebrated:-
Schools on November 11 conduct several interesting and informative seminars, symposia, essay-writing, rallies, etc. Students and teachers discuss the importance of education and the country can develop with putting efforts imparting quality education and engaging into all spheres of education.
National education day is also a homage to all the outstanding contributions and sacrifices Maulana Azad made in the field of the education system of Independent India.
10 inspiring quotes from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on education and life:-
1- “Science is neutral. Its discoveries can be used equally to heal and to kill. It depends upon the outlook and mentality of the user whether science will be used to create a new heaven on earth or to destroy the world in a common conflagration.”
2- “No program of national education can be appropriate if it does not give full consideration to the education and advancement of one-half of the society that is the women.”
3- “Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.”
4- “Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or the top of your career.”
5- “Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness.”
6- “You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
7- “To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.”
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8- “We must not for a moment forget, it is a birthright of every individual to receive at least the basic education without which he cannot fully discharge his duties as a citizen.”
9- “Art is the education of emotions and is thus an essential element in any scheme of truly national education. Education, whether at the secondary or the university stage, cannot be regarded as complete if it does not train our faculties to the perception of beauty.”
10- “One who is not moved by music is unsound of mind and intemperate; is far from spirituality and is denser than birds and beasts because everyone is affected by melodious sounds.”