November 11 is celebrated as National Education Day.

National Education Day 2024

• Purpose: It commemorates the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Education Minister.
• This day  in India has been celebrated annually since 2008.
• National Education Day 2024 Theme: The topic of inclusive, high-quality education will be the focus of National Education Day 2024.
• • This theme promotes excellent education and aims to provide relevant skills and knowledge to the students. 

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Maulana Azad’s Legacy

• Roles: Azad was a prominent journalist, freedom fighter, and senior leader in the Indian National Congress.
• Advocacy for Unity: Despite rising communal tensions before Partition, Azad remained committed to Hindu-Muslim unity.
• Opposition to Partition: Azad believed Indian Muslims could embrace both their Indian and Muslim identities, opposing the Muslim League’s divisive rhetoric.
• Conflict with Jinnah: Azad’s stance led to conflicts with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who dismissed him as a “Muslim showboy” of the Congress, questioning his representation of Muslims.

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Contributions to India’s Education System

• Institution Building: He was the first  Education Minister after independence. He played a pivotal role in founding key institutions, such as:
  • Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs): The first IIT was established in Kharagpur in 1951. 
  • University Grants Commission (UGC): Set up in 1953 to oversee and regulate higher education
  • Jamia Millia Islamia; Co-founded and played a significant role in relocating it to New Delhi
  • Indian Institute of Science (IISc), bangalore
• Focus on Education Budget: Azad increased educational expenditure significantly during his tenure, from ₹1 crore to ₹30 crore.
• Emphasis on Adult Literacy: He identified adult literacy as a crucial area for educational improvement.

Cultural and Scientific Organisations: Azad is also credited with founding several key institutions 

• Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR): Promotes cultural relations between India and other countries.
• Sahitya Akademi: Promotes literature in the various languages of India.
• Lalit Kala Akademi: Promotes fine arts in India.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi: Promotes performing arts in India.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): Promotes scientific research and industrial development

Revolutionary Activities and Role in Freedom Movement

• Involvement with Indian Revolutionaries: After returning to India, he connected with Bengal revolutionaries like Aurobindo Ghosh and Shyam Sundar Chakravarty, helping to establish revolutionary centers across North India and Bombay.
• Efforts for Hindu-Muslim Unity: Despite anti-Muslim sentiments among some revolutionaries, Azad promoted Hindu-Muslim unity within the independence movement.
• Al-Hilal and Al-Balagh Journals: In 1912, he launched the Urdu weekly Al-Hilal to spread revolutionary ideas among Muslims, promoting unity between Hindus and Muslims. 
• After Al-Hilal was banned, he started Al-Balagh with similar objectives, which was also banned in 1916. 
  • He was subsequently exiled to Ranchi and later released in 1920.
• Role in the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements
  • Khilafat Movement: Azad rallied the Muslim community through the Khilafat Movement, which sought to restore the Khalifa in Turkey.
  • Non-Cooperation Movement: He also  supported Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement and joined the Indian National Congress in 1920.
  • Congress Leadership: In 1923, he was elected president of a special Congress session in Delhi and, in 1940, assumed leadership again, serving as Congress President until 1946.

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Language Policy and the Role of English

• Initial View: Azad initially favoured moving away from the English language in post-independence India.
• Revised Perspective: In a Constituent Assembly speech (September 14, 1949), he argued that India could not immediately replace English due to:
  • Lack of a National Language: No single language had widespread acceptance or usage across the country.
  • Educational Standards: A sudden shift away from English risked compromising educational quality and student competence.
• Balanced Approach: Azad emphasised the need for practicality over sentiment, advocating for a gradual, thoughtful approach to language policy in education.

Recognition and Legacy

• Death and Posthumous Honour: In 1992, he was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the nation.

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