On National Education Day, let's pay tribute to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who served as the first education minister of India from August 15, 1947 to February 2, 1958. From IIT to UGC, here are Maulana Azad's contributions to the Indian educational sector.
New Delhi: India celebrates National Education Day today in remembrance of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary. Freedom fighter Maulana Kalam served as the first education minister of India from August 15, 1947 to February 2, 1958.
November 11 is celebrated as the National Education Day in India since 2008. The ministry of human resources had announced this decision. The order read: November 11 every year, from 2008 onwards, will be celebrated as the National Education Day, without declaring it a holiday.
All educational institutions in the country mark the day with seminars, symposia, essay-writing, elocution competitions, workshops and rallies with banner cards and slogans on the importance of literacy and the nation's commitment to all aspects of education, the ministry's direction specified.
Maulana Sayyid Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad known as Maulana Azad was born on November 11, 1888.
The word Maulana means Master and he adopted Azad (meaning free) as his pen name.
He was a poet, and he also worked as a journalist. Later he became the leader of the Khilafat Movement and worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi.
As the education minister, Azad established a national education system with free primary education and modern institutions for higher education. Indian Institutes of Technology and the foundation of the University Grants Commission are his contributions to the Indian education sector.
Here are five quotes of the first education minister of India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad:
"Education imparted by heart can bring revolution in the society"
''Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career"
''To succeed in your mission, you must have a single-minded devotion to your goal"
"Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness"
"Many people plant trees but few of them get the fruit of it"
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