National Education Day, why this is celebrated on November 11?

National Education Day 2021: Education Day in India is celebrated each in November, to celebrate the birthday of India's first Minister for Education, India Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Maulana Azad Abul Kalam was the first minister of education of independent India from 1947 until 1958. He was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in the year 1992.

Since the year 2008, November 11 has been observed as National Education Day to mark the birthday of the first Indian education minister, Abul Abdul Kalam Ghulam Mohiyuddin. He was affectionately referred to for his role as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad during his tenure as the minister of education in independent India for more than ten years between 1947 and 1958. He was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in the year 1992.

In addition to holding the position as India's minister of education Abul kalam Azad donned many roles as a journalist as well as a political activist, freedom fighter and educationist. Below are five less-known pieces of information about Azad, the former minister of education who revolutionized the educational system in India.

Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad was born Saudi Arabia

Maulana Abul Kalam Azam was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1888. His mom was Arab and was the child of the Sheikh Mohammad Zaher Watri and Azad's father, Maulana Khairuddin, was a Bengali Muslim of Afghan origins who arrived in Arab at the time of the Sepoy Mutiny and proceeded to Mecca and settled in Mecca. He returned to Calcutta along with his parents in the year 1890. Abul Kalam was two years old.

Abul Kalam was homeschooled and spoke many different languages

Azad was a student of traditional Islamic education. He was educated at home by his father and then by teachers appointed by the government who were experts in their particular areas. Azad was educated in Arabic and Persian at first, and later mathematics, geometry, philosophy and algebra. Azad also studied English and world history as well as politics, by studying on his own. Azad also spoke Hindustani, Hindi and English languages.

The two journals that were created weekly two weeks ago - Al-Hilal as well as Al-Balagh to promote unity between Hindus and Muslims.

The year 1912 was the time that Maulana Abul Kalam Azad began a weekly newspaper in Urdu known as Al-Hilal to expand the revolutionary enlisting of Muslims. Al-Hilal played a crucial role in the formation of Hindu-Muslim harmony following the conflict between both communities in the wake of the Morley-Minto reforms. Al-Hilal was transformed into a revolutionary voice with extreme opinions. The government considered Al- Hilal as a promoter of secessionist ideas and was banned in 1914.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad created a new weekly, Al-Balagh which had the exact goal of spreading Indian nationalist ideas and revolutionary concepts that were based on the Hindu-Muslim unite. In 1916 the government banned this publication as well and also exiled Maulana Abul Kalam Azad out of Calcutta and forced the journalist to Bihar and then Bihar, where he was released following during the First World War 1920.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a supporter of the Non-Cooperation Movement started by Gandhiji and was a member of the Indian National Congress in 1920. He was elected to be the President in the Special Session of Congress held in Delhi (1923). At the age of 35, he was the youngest individual to be the president of the Indian National Congress.

Maulana Azad was detained in 1930, for violating the salt laws in the context of Gandhiji's Salt Satyagraha. He was detained in Meerut jail for one year and one-half. Following his release from jail, he became President of Congress in the year 1940 (Ramgarh) and held office until 1946.

Founder of Jamia Milia Islamia University

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is among the founders of Jamia Milia Islamia University, first established at Aligarh located in the United Provinces, India in 1920.

He is the one who has shaped the contemporary education system of the nation. The initial IIT, IISc, School of Planning and Architecture and the University Grants Commission were established during his tenure as education minister. The most renowned cultural and literary and academic academies were also established such as those of the Sangeet Natak Academy, Lalit Kala Academy, Sahitya Academy and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.