National Education Day 2023: Know why it is celebrated on November 11

National Education Day 2024: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a key architect of Independent India. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992.

India celebrates National Education Day every year on November 11 as it marks the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

National Education Day 2024: To celebrate and recognise the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India celebrates National Education Day every year on November 11 (Express image / file)

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National Education Day: National Education Day is celebrated every year on November 11 across India to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who was the first education minister of independent India. He served as the education minister from August 15, 1947 to February 2, 1958 and passed away in Delhi on February 22, 1958.

Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad was born on November 11, 1888. He was a freedom fighter, educationist, scholar and senior leader of the Indian National Congress.

Also called Maulana Azad, he was a key architect of Independent India. He was responsible for setting up the top education bodies including the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). Maulana Abul Kalam Azad also established the first Indian Institute of Technology – IIT Kharagpur.

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Read | IIT-Kharagpur’s First Batch: ‘Our classes were held where freedom fighters were locked up’

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Sahitya Academy, Lalit Kala Academy, Sangeet Natak Academy and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) were also set up under his guidance.

The National Education Day is observed to celebrate the work done by Abul Kalam Azad in the education sector during his lifetime.

In post-independent India, Azad focused on areas including educating the rural poor and girls, adult literacy, free and compulsory for all children up to the age of 14, universal primary education, and diversification of secondary education and vocational training.

To celebrate National Education Day, schools and colleges organise programmes, seminars and workshops. Various schools organise essays, speeches, poster making and many other competitions.

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Maulana Azad was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992. Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award.

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Shelter in homes, avoid going out: MEA issues travel advisory for Indian citizens in Nepal

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