November 11 is a significant day for the people of India. This day is annually celebrated as National Education Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He is the first Education Minister of India, who served from August 15, 1947, to February 2, 1958. It was only from 2008 when November 11 was decided as the National Education Day. The country will be celebrating National Education Day 2019 tomorrow, November 11. Ahead of the momentous observance, know the history and significance of the annual celebration that honours Maulana’s birth anniversary and his contributions in the field of education for the development of our nation. 10 Things Schools Owe Our Future Generation. 

Maulana was a freedom fighter, and in 1912, he started a weekly journal in Urdu called Al-Hilal to increase the revolutionary recruits. For his contribution; both in education and country’s freedom, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992.

National Education Day: History and Significance

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the first Education Minister of India, who served from August 15, 1947, to February 2, 1958. His contribution to education has been remarkable. In 2008, the Ministry of Human Resource Development announced November 11 to be celebrated as National Education Day. “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 every year, from 2008 onwards, will be celebrated as the National Education Day, without declaring it a holiday,” stated the announcement.

National Education Day is an occasion to remember Maulana’s contribution in laying the foundations of the education system in independent India and also evaluating to understand and improve the country’s current performance in the field. There is a lot, we need to perform in terms of developing the education sector, and Maulana’s birth anniversary reminds and encourages us to better the field for our future generation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 10, 2019 04:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).