By Salman Sultan, TwoCircles.net Special Correspondent,
Azamgarh: The district centre of National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) at Department of Computer Science, Shibli National College, Association for Welfare, Medical, Educational and Legal Assistance (AWMELA) and Darul Mussanefein, Shibli Academy, organized a program on 11th November 2009 in the Hall of Shibli Academy, Azamgarh, as a National Education Day celebration to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Union Education Minister of India.
NCPUL centre at Department of Computer Science, Shibli National College celebrated the day in 2007 after getting instruction from then NCPUL’s (NCPUL works under the Union Ministry of HRD) Vice Chairman, Mr. Shamsur Rahman Farooqui. Afterwards his recommendation to the Government of India resulted in an official direction to celebrate the day as “Nationa Education Day”. The Department of Computer Science successfully organised the programme. The government has been observing November 11 as the National Educational Day since last year. Institutions across the country are organising programmes to celebrate the occasion.
The program started at 2:15 pm with recitation of Holy Quran and its translation by Maulana Fazlur Rahman Qasmi, Scholar, Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy, Azamgarh. Maulana Umair-us-Siddiq Nadwi, Senior Rafiq Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy presided over the programme. Remembering Maulana Azad speakers in the programme conferred upon in their speech about the laurels Azad brought to the country by laying down the foundation of its educational policy and planning.
Maulana Azad established University Grants Commission (UGC), National Academies like the Sangeet Natak Akademy, Sahitya Akademy, Lalit Kala Akademy, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. He strengthened the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and oversaw the establishment of a chain of top class technical institutions that now represent the best in the Indian Education System. It was under his distinguished leadership that the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-K) was established in 1951, which was followed by a chain of IITs at Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur and Delhi.
Dr. Javed Akhtar, President AWMELA spoke about the importance of National Education Day by referring it as “A befitting homage to one of our greatest leaders”. He said that National Education Day function is celebrated on November 11 to commemorate the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, an eminent educationist. Azad was one of the prominent leaders in the country to support Hindu Muslim Unity and opposed partition of India.
Dr. Javed Ali Khan, Head, Department of History said that to declare National Education Day on the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalaam Azad, an eminent educationist is a good though belated idea. Motivated by Azad’s selfless working attitude, Dr Javed Ali Khan remarked that Maulana Abul Kalam Azad can rightly be assigned the title of “Builder of Modern India and Literacy”.
Mr. Suhail Ahmad, Senior lecturer, Shibli National Inter College welcomed the recommendation of Shamsur Rahman Farooqui to Govt of India to observe 11th of November as National Education Day. He thanked Govt of India to accept this recommendation. He said that Azad azad was broad minded and pioneer of Education system in India. Dr. Suhail praised the organization of this function and emphasized to the students regarding the significance of higher education. He mentioned about the intellectual relationship of Allama Shibli Nomani And Maulan Abul Kalam Azad
Mr. Kaleem Sifat briefly recited the historic parlimentary speech of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Deepika Rai, M.Sc. Chemistry, DCA, Rashid Ali, M.Sc. Chemistry, DCA and Rajneesh Kumar Dubey, B.Sc.II, DCA also spoke on the occasion and mentioned Azad as a great freedom fighter and pioneer of Education system in India.
Maulana Umair-us-Siddiq Nadwi, Senior Rafiq Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy in his presiding speech asserted the importance of such program and significance of education as a social development program and urged students to work against social evils and bring home the importance of education and social awareness. He especially advised the students to read the books related to such personalities. He remembered Allama Shibli Nomani and Maulan Azad’s work especially for the women.
The programme was conducted by Mr. M.N.Beg, and Vote of thanks given by Mr. A.A. Abbasi. A Large section of students and others present in the programme.
Shibli National Girls High School and Jyoti Niketan School, Azamgarh also observed national Education day this year. Jyoti Niketan School organized street play on this occasion in which students from different Schools like Niswan College, Wesley College and Central Public School of the city participated