On National Education Day Odisha CM Pays Tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik paid his humble tributes to freedom fighter and scholar Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary today, which is being observed as National Education Day across the country.

Maulana Azad’s invaluable contribution towards building the foundation of a strong education system for modern India will always be remembered, the Chief Minister Tweeted.

Humble tributes to freedom fighter and scholar #MaulanaAbulKalamAzad on his birth anniversary. His invaluable contribution towards building the foundation of a strong education system for modern India will always be remembered. #NationalEducationDay pic.twitter.com/OWDwC19qR4

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) November 11, 2019

The country celebrates National Education Day on November 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who served as the first Minister of Education of independent India.

On September 11, 2008, the Ministry of Human Resource Development had decided to celebrate November 11 as National Education Day.

During his tenure as education minister, Maulana Azad established a national education system and the University Grants Commission (UGC) after India’s independence.

Maulana Azad was the youngest, at the age of 35, president of the Indian National Congress. Azad used to write poems in Urdu. People also know him as a warrior with a pen. He established higher educational institutions and worked for free education in the country.

His primary focus was free primary education. In 1922, he was awarded Bharat Ratna — nation’s highest civilian honour, for his contributions toward education.