It is November 14 today and India is busy celebrating Childrens Day or Bal Diwas to appreciate and acknowledge the countrys future generation.
The day is observed on the birth anniversary of Indias first PM Jawaharlal Nehru, who was called affectionately by children as Chacha Nehru.
Born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889, Nehru was a strong advocate of childrens 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 Childrens Day is celebrated on November 14?
Previously, India used to celebrate Childrens Day on November 20, the day which marks World Childrens Day.
World Childrens Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Childrens Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving childrens 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 Childrens Day in the country, reported NDTV.
PM Narendra Modi, President Murmu wish:
Tributes to our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru Ji on his birth anniversary, Modi posted on X.
Tributes to our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru Ji on his birth anniversary.
Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 14, 2023
Meanwhile, children from various schools/organisations met the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC) on Tuesday.
Children from various schools and organisations met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Childrens Day.https://t.co/cxAQ8qHSaB pic.twitter.com/VKceo8zNh6
President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 14, 2023
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 todays 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.
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 wasnt done until ALL 4 tyres were flattened.
Rewind the time and tell me the
Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 14, 2023
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 wasnt 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.
