Context:
National Education Day (NED) was observed on 11th November
National Education Day (NED):
- Observed annually on – 11th November
- Celebrated to honour Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s birth anniversary and his contributions to India’s educational landscape.
- 1st declared in 2008
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad:
- Born on – 11th November 1888
- Joined Indian National Congress in 1920, supported Non-Cooperation Movement. .
- Arrested in 1930 during Salt Satyagraha
- Congress President from 1940 to 1946.
- Advocated for a blend of Eastern spiritualism and Western materialism in education.
- Co-founded Jamia Millia Islamia University in 1920.
- Served as Post-independent India’s 1st Education Minister
- His role was fundamental in the establishment of first IIT, IISc, School of Planning and Architecture, and University Grants Commission.
- Established Indian Council for Cultural Relations in 1950
- Publications – Launched Urdu weekly Al-Hilal and Al-Balagh to promote Hindu-Muslim unity
- Literary Work – India Wins Freedom
- Honors – Awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1992.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) Annie Besant
(b) Debendranath Tagore
(c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: (c)