BEHIND THE NATIONAL EDUCATION DAY ABUL KALAM AZAD
“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.” – Moulana Abul Kalam Azad.
National Education Day is celebrated on 11th November, the birth anniversary of the first education minister of Independent India Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The day has been celebrated as National Education Day since 2008. His contribution to establish the education foundation in India is very significant.
As India’s first education minister,he noticed that India had been suffering the problem of illiteracy everywhere. Understanding the fundamental rule of education, he laid emphasise on the development of both elementary and secondary education. He especially emphasised on educating the poor girls of rural areas.
As chairman of the Central Advisory Board of Education, he emphasised to adult literacy,universal primary education, free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14, girls’ education and diversification of secondary education and vocational training.
He was the man behind the establishment of India’s first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur in 1951, University Grant Commission (UGC) in 1953. He was also primary propagator of Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and Faculty of Technology of Delhi University. He was the founder of Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi.
Moulana Sayyid Abul Kalam Gulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed Bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad(Moulana Abul Kalam Azad) was born on 11 th November 1888 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. When he wastwo years old,his family moved to India and settled in Calcutta (Kolkata). He was a great scholar,theologian, Urdu poet, journalist, foremost freedom fighter and active leader of India NationalCongress during Indian Independence Movement. He was a leader of Khilafat Movement, during this time,he came into close contact of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Nation in India. Along with Mahatma Gandhi, he fought for the independent India from the British Rule. He actively participated in Civil Disobedience Movement, Non-cooperation Movement, Swadeshi Movement, Quit India Movement etc.The great educationist Moulana Abul Kalam Azad was died on 22 nd February 1958. In 1992, he was awarded The Bharat Ratna Award.
He brought a revolutionary educational development in India during his education ministry Tenure in 1947 to 1958. He impressed entire India with his foresight, knowledge, merit and his writings. For his significant role in Indian education, the Government of India declared his birthday as the National Education Day.
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Maskura Begom
Asstt. Teacher
Champupara High School
Chhaygaon Educational Block, Kamrup(R)
Illustration By : Sukanya Bharadwaj
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