National Education Day (India): History, Date [11th November, 2023], Theme, Significance, Celebration and Importance

National Education Day Overview

Every year on November 11, India celebrates National Education Day in honour of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Azad was a well-known author and advocate for education. Along with holding the vice presidency, he served as India's first education minister after independence. Numerous events are held to commemorate the day at educational institutions across the nation. The events include seminars, essay-writing contests, workshops, and rallies on the value of literacy and India's dedication to education.

Why is National Education Day celebrated?

Every year on November 11th, National Education Day is observed in honour of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India's first Minister of Education. On this day, a number of events and programmes are held to raise awareness of the value of education in society. Azad was born on November 11th, 1888.

To ensure that every citizen of the nation is literate, numerous campaigns and activities have been set up on this day. The Ministry of Human Resource Development first decided to observe National Education Day on September 11th, 2008, and then opted to observe it on November 11th each year. "Education provided from the heart may revolutionise society" is this year's National Education Day theme. The goal of National Education Day 2020 is to raise awareness of the value of education and literacy.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 

Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin was his real surname; he was also referred to as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad or Maulana Azad. He was born on November 11, 1888, in Mecca, which is today in Saudi Arabia, and passed away in New Delhi on February 22, 1958. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the nation's first minister of education after independence. He made a significant contribution to the nation's educational system. The UGC, AICTE, Kharagpur Institute of Higher Education, University Education Commission, and Secondary Education Commission were all established during his administration. He also had a role in the founding of schools like Jamia Millia Islamia and IIT Kharagpur. 

After India's independence, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad became the country's first minister of education and founded the University Grants Commission. He presided over the Indian National Congress as its youngest president. In addition to founding higher education institutes, Maulana Azad campaigned for free education in India. Azad, along with other outstanding Indian figures, was a poet, scholar, journalist, and freedom warrior who helped shape India. But education is his greatest contribution to India. As a result, Maulana Azad joined the Jamia Millia Islamia's founding committee in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, in 1920. Later, he started the Department of Education at the University of Delhi.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Highlights 

The following table gives details about the first education minister of India-

Also read more about- National Doctors' Day.

Significance of Azad's birthday as National Education Day

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad made outstanding contributions to the development of institutions in the realm of education. He was the one who made modern education possible in India. He has made a lot of contributions to the educational field. As a result, Azad is often regarded as India's primary architect of education. In 2008, the Ministry of Human Resource Development proclaimed "the great son of India's" birthday as National Education Day. Since then, this day has been used to honour Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's contributions.

Views of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad regarding Education

Because of his strong belief in education, Maulana saw schools as the breeding grounds for the bright minds of the future. He even emphasised the importance of educating women and the need for all women in our country to receive an education in order to enjoy their civil rights. He even discussed technical education and vocational training with the youngsters. Maulana's passion for education was unwavering, and he wished for India to be a country that produced great minds of renown and high educational standards. Education was of the highest importance to him, and he made sure that a common national standard was followed across the board.

After being chosen as India's first Minister of Education in 1947, Maulana went on to make primary education a free and required civic obligation for children up to the age of 14.

Also read more about the- Education Minister of Maharashtra.

National Education Day Celebrations

All levels of educational institutions will participate in the National Education Day celebration by planning rallies, seminars, symposia, essay contests, elocution competitions, workshops, and other events that highlight the value of education and the country's commitment to all facets of education. The ceremonies of this day will be a learning opportunity for the entire academic community.

Significance of Education

The following are the details for the education-

1. Realising one's full potential, creating a fair and just society, and advancing global progress all depend on education.
2. The secret to India's continuous rise and leadership on the international stage in terms of economic growth, social fairness and equality, scientific advancement, national integration, and cultural preservation is ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality education.
3. Goal 4 (SDG4) of the 2030 Goal for Sustainable Development, adopted by India in 2015, reflects the global education development agenda and aims to "provide inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for everyone" by the year 2030.
4. To accomplish this challenging objective and all the crucial aims and goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the entire educational system must be redesigned to promote and foster learning.

Related Articles- 

National Education Day Slogans

Here are some inspiring and motivating sayings by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad that will inspire everyone.

• Educationists must build the capacity and the ability of spirit of inquiry, entrepreneurial, creative, and moral leadership among students and become their role models.
• Climbing to the top demands strength, whether the top of Mount Everest or your career.
• Slavery is always the worst, even if it bears beautiful names.
• Dream before your dreams can come true.
• The education imparted by heart can bring society's revolution.
• To succeed in a mission, one must have single-minded devotion to the goal.
• Teaching by the tongue can be perspired, but good deeds can stay stronger.
• "The 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."
• "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."