The National Education Day celebrated on 11 November to remember one of India’s great personalities, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad. This day recognizes as a day of spreading awareness about the importance of education. However, people learn the role of education in our lives and how it is changing everybody’s lives.
Who was Maulana Azad?
Maulana Azad was born on 11 November 1888 in Makkah. His father was a Bengali Muslim scholar and, his mother was also a reputed scholar from Medina. He was a determined and dedicated student at an early age. Azad learned Arabic, Bengali, Science, and Persian, well-trained in philosophy, geometry, mathematics, and algebra. He also knew the English language, history of the world, and politics.
Also, he used to teach the students twice than his age at the age of fifteen. Moreover, he was the editor of a journal at the age of twelve.
In his later age, he developed a political point of view and became an Indian nationalist. According to his education, he was capable of becoming a clerk, but his desire and interest took him towards revolution, politics, and journalism.
In 1912, he published a weekly newspaper, Al-Hilal. He was an extrovert about the revolt against British rule and encouraged the young generation to fight against Britishers and attain freedom.
Later Azad served the Indian National Committee in the office of President and general office. He was also a part of the group working against the Simon Commission.
At the age of thirty-five, he became the first Education Minister of India and made the University Grant Commission (UGC) after the independence in 1953. As an education minister, he emphasized the importance of education by giving education to the rural poor and also girls. And, as the chairman of the Central Advisory Board of Education, he encourages adult literacy and universal primary education compulsory to all the children under the age of fourteen. He also started making policies for girls’ education, vocational training, and streams of secondary education.
In the conference of All India Education held on 16 January 1948, Azad quoted:
” 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.”
Under his leadership, he made the department of Education of Delhi University as the research center for solving the new educational problems of the country. Also, he saw a bright future for the IITs of India.
What can we learn from the first Education Minister, Maulana Azad?
Every person should have a perspective to see education as a human right, public responsibility, and the best investment that a person can make. Acquiring proper schooling creates a surety to have a sustainable future and, taking the whole society with themselves.
However, thousands of people are unaware of the benefits of education and are deprived of it due to social status, cultural factors, and economic issues.
Education even breaks the misconception of human inequality and gender discrimination. It can even cut the cycle of poverty. A son of the poor doesn’t need to be underprivileged. Every child has the potential to change the financial status and social status of his and his family. Education is a way to attain that goal.
Celebration of National Education Day
The National Education Day celebrated on the birthday of Maulana Azad to remember the efforts and thinking for the future of education of the nation.
This day recognizes for organizing the essay writing competition, seminars, symposia, workshops, rallies, elocution competition, and making cards, banners, and slogans. There is no holiday on this day as Azad believed in education.
Many people work to help to spread awareness of the importance of education in society. And how this changes the mentality in people. Like Azad, who strongly advocated for learning, there are charities based on it, encouraging rural poor for education.
Inspiring quotes of Maulana Azad motivating all are:
“Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or the top of your career.”
“Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial, and moral leadership among students and become their role model.”
“The education imparted by heart can bring revolution in the society.”
“Teaching by the tongue can be perspired but, by good deed can stay stronger.”
Conclusion
In this Maulana Azad’s birthday, celebrate National Education Day by inspiring the underprivileged rural poor and girls for education. Bring a positive change in the life of yourself and others like Azad did in his reign.
Penned by Piyali Das
Email: Info@globalprofessionals.biz