New Delhi: Every year, November 11 is celebrated as the National Education Day in India. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of the first Union Education Minister of India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Azad was an eminent scholar, educationist and a freedom fighter. He is also considered as a key architect of Independent India, responsible for setting up the apex education bodies like AICTE and UGC.
With a resolution on September 11, 2008, the Central Government, declared November 11 as the National Education Day. On this day, India remembers Maulana Azad's contributions to nation-building.
The first National Day was inaugurated by the then president of India, Pratibha Patil on November 11, 2008, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Ministry of Education took it to Twitter to wish everyone a happy National Education Day.
Maulana Azad laid the base for higher education and for technological and scientific research and education, which was instrumental in industrialisation and the recent emergence of knowledge-based industries. The first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) was established by Maulana Azad in Kharagpur.
Azad was responsible for setting up of All India Council For Technical Education, University Grants Commission (UGC), Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Lalit Kala Academy, Sahitya Academy, Sangeet Natak Academy and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The great scholar died on February 22, 1958, and was posthumously awarded the highest civilian award of the country - Bharat Ratna in the year 1992.