November 11 of every year is observed as National Education Day. National Education Day is celebrated to solemnize the birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It was officially announced by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2008. The theme for National Education Day 2022 Theme is “Changing Course, Transforming Education.

Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad

Ø Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, born in Saudi Arabia in 1888, grew up to be one of the leaders of the Indian Independence movement in the late 20th century fighting against British Rule.

Ø He was a proponent of Hindu-Muslim unity and opposed the Partition of India.

Ø In 1912, he started a weekly journal in Urdu called Al-Hilal which played an important role in forging Hindu-Muslim unity after Morley-Minto reforms (1909).

Ø Azad supported entered the Indian National Congress in 1920.

Ø He was elected as the president of Indian National Congress in 1923 and in 1940 and remained in the post till 1946.

Views of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad regarding education:

Ø He believed in the fusion of the Eastern and Western concepts of man, to create a fully integrated personality.

Ø He also gave great emphasis on girls’ education and believed that every woman in our nation needs to be educated on all civil rights.

Ø He even introduced vocational training and technical education to the students.

 Contributions of Maulana Azad

Ø He was one of the core founders of Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and contributed to the foundation of Indian Institute of Technology campuses across the country.

Ø He also paved the way for India’s highest education Regulator – University Grants Commission.

Ø Many cultural and literary academies like Sahitya Academy, Lalit Kala Academy, Sangeet Natak Academy, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, etc. were also established under Azad’s tenure.

Ø Jawaharlal Nehru referred to Maulana Azad as Mir-i-Karawan because of his intellectual skills and outstanding personality.

Ø He was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honor, Bharat Ratna in 1992.

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