National Education Day

Tags: Important Days

Every year 11 November is celebrated as National Education Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of India.

Important facts

• On this day, his exemplary contribution in the field of education and educational institutions is remembered.

• He was the first education minister of independent India and served the country as education minister from 1947 to 1958.

• National Education Day is celebrated in all educational institutions to raise awareness about the importance of literacy.

• The Ministry of Education ( Formerly The Ministry of Human Resource Development) sets a different theme for National Education Day every year.

• The theme of this year is "Changing Course, Transforming Education".

Background of the day

• In 2008 the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education) decided to celebrate Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's birthday as National Education Day.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born in 1888 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

• A freedom fighter, he started Al-Hilal, a weekly magazine in Urdu, in 1912 to criticise British policies.

• After al-Hilal was banned, he started another weekly al-Bagah.

• He was opposed to partition and a supporter of Hindu-Muslim unity.

• He supported the non-cooperation movement (1920–22) started by Gandhiji and joined the Indian National Congress in 1920.

• In 1923 he was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress. At the age of 35 he became the youngest person to preside over the Indian National Congress.

• In 1947, he became the first Education Minister of independent India and he remained in this post till his death in 1958.