It is November 14 today and India is busy celebrating Children’s Day or ‘Bal Diwas’ to appreciate and acknowledge the country’s future generation.
The day is observed on the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was called affectionately by children as ‘Chacha Nehru’.
Born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889, Nehru was a strong advocate of children’s rights.
His deep love for children is reflected in his speech where he said: “Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.”
During his tenure, Nehru established several major educational institutions of national importance like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Why Children’s Day is celebrated on November 14?
Previously, India used to celebrate Children’s Day on November 20, the day which marks World Children’s Day.
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare, as per UN website.
After the death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the year 1964, the parliament issued a resolution to establish his birthday as the official Children’s Day in the country.
PM Narendra Modi, President Murmu wish:
“Tributes to our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru Ji on his birth anniversary,” Modi posted on X.
Meanwhile, children from various schools/organisations met the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC) on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that we often say that children are the future of the country.
“It is the duty of all of us to safeguard this future and ensure its proper upbringing. She stated that today’s children have technology and a lot of information and knowledge. They are showing their talent in the country and abroad,” she said.
She said that it is the responsibility of all of us to give the right direction to the talent of our children.
Former Indian criketer Sachin Tendulkar posted on X: “Childhood is incomplete without a bit of mischief.”
“When I was a kid, my friends and I would flatten the tyres of the cars parked in Sahitya Sahwas. The thorough professionals that we were, our job wasn’t done until ALL 4 tyres were flattened.Rewind the time and tell me the naughtiest thing you did as a child, while I go check on my car tyres,” he said.
