National Education Day is observed on November 11 every year since 2008 to commemorate the birth anniversary of independent India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Azad served as the first education minister of independent India from August 15, 1947, until his death on February 2, 1958.
Azad, who took a significant role in shaping the country’s education system, contributed to the formation of the UGC, AICTE, Kharagpur Institute of higher education, the University education commission, and the Secondary education commission.
Educational institutes like Jamia Millia Islamia and IIT Kharagpur were set up during his tenure.
On the occasion of his birth anniversary, several leaders have remembered the contribution of Azad.
In a tribute to the first education minister of the country, PM Narendra Modi said, “Tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his Jayanti. A pathbreaking thinker and intellectual, his role in the freedom struggle is inspiring. He was passionate about the education sector and worked to further brotherhood in society.”
“Humble tributes to freedom fighter & scholar #MaulanaAbulKalamAzad on his birth anniversary also celebrated as #NationalEducationDay. His invaluable contribution towards laying the foundation of a strong education system in independent India will be remembered forever,” Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik tweeted.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in a tweet, said, “Humble tributes to freedom fighter, prominent theologian, nation’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Ji on his birth anniversary, celebrated as National Education Day. His contribution to the independence struggle and nation building shall always be remembered.”
