Maulana Azad strove to promote national unity, value-based education: VP Naidu

NEW DELHI: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu paid rich tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary on Thursday and said he will always be remembered for his invaluable role in the country's freedom struggle.

Also Read | National Education Day 2021: 8 inspiring quotes by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

"My tributes to great freedom fighter, nationalist and educationist, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary. "He strove to promote national unity and value-based education. He will always be remembered for his invaluable role in India's freedom struggle," the vice president wrote on Twitter.

My tributes to great freedom fighter, nationalist & educationist, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary. He strove to promote national unity & value-based education. He will always be remembered for his invaluable role in India's freedom struggle. #MaulanaAbulKalamAzad pic.twitter.com/YBpJK8g1eT

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) November 11, 2021

Azad was India's first education minister. His contribution to establishing the education foundation in India is recognised by celebrating his birthday as National Education Day every year on November 11.

The first National Education Day was celebrated on November 11, 2008. It was on September 11, 2008, the ministry of human resource development announced, "The Ministry has decided to commemorate the birthday of this great son of India by recalling his contribution to the cause of education in India. November 11 every year, from 2008 onwards, will be celebrated as the National Education Day, with declaring it as a holiday."

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad served as the first education minister of independent India from August 15, 1947, to February 2, 1958. He was also a freedom fighter, a scholar and a senior political leader of Jawaharlal Nehru’s government.

Also Read | NIT Andhra Pradesh to conduct second, third joint convocation offline on November 13

The day is also seen as an occasion to remember Azad's contribution in laying the foundations of the education system in an independent India, and evaluating and improving the country's current performance in the field.

(With inputs from PTI)