National Education Day 2018: India celebrates November 11 as National Education Day every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s first Union Minister of Education Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
November 11 was declared as National Education Day by the Union HRD Minister in 2008. Since then India is observing this day as National Education Day without declaring it a holiday.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, popularly known as Maulana Azad was a freedom Fighter, scholar and he served India as Education Minister from August 15 of Year 1947 to February 2, 1958.
Lets Know More Facts About Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Reality behind the Name
The title ‘Azad’ was adopted by Maulana Abul Kalam meaning ‘to be free’.
He adopted this pen name signifying his mental perception from the narrow view of religion and life.
Maulana Azad was a renowned scholar, poet and even a debater as indicated by his name, Abul Kalam which means lord og Dialogue’.
A national revolutionary led by an orthodox family tradition
As per the culture of his family, Azad had to pursue traditional Islamic education.
He was taught at home, then by his father and later teachers were appointed.
He met exiled revolutionaries who were fighting to establish a constitutional government in their countries while he visited Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.
From these revolutionists, he gained his first-hand knowledge of the ideals and these social contacts of the Arab world metamorphosed him into a national revolutionist.
A Prominent Journal Critical
He started publishing a weekly journal that promoted communal harmony as Al- Hilal, which was banned by the British rule in 1912.
With the same mission of propagating Indian Nationalism and ideas of Hindu-Muslim unity he again started another weekly journal Al- Balagah.
Enthusiastic Supporter of Mahatma Gandhi
Azad became the leader of the ‘Khilafat Movement’ (1919-26), during which, he came in close contact with Mahatma Gandhi.
He was very supportive of Gandhiji’s non-violent civil disobedience
In protest of the 1919 Rowlatt Acts, he even worked to organize the non-cooperation movement.
He was referred as the “Emperor of Learning” by Mahatma Gandhi.
In independent India, became the first minister of education
In Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet from 1947 to 1958, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad served as the Minister of Education.
He died of a stroke on February 22, 1958.
