National Education Day

Every year since 2008, November 11 is celebrated as education day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Azad was independent India's first education minister.

Azad is credited with shaping modern education system of India. It was under his tenure that the first IIT, IISc, School of Planning and Agriculture and the University Grants Commission were established.

The freedom fighter and eminent scholar was also responsible for the setting up of the AICTE.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is also instrumental in starting the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sahitya Akademi, and Lalit Kala Akademi to promote education and culture in the country. During his tenure as the Education Minister of independent India, he promoted research in eastern learning and literature.

The Central government, had on 11 September 2008, declared the day to be National Education Day and the first celebrations were inaugurated by then President of India Pratibha Patil at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1992 for his contribution as a freedom fighter and educationist.