Children’s Day, also known as “Bal Diwas” is celebrated every year in India on November 14, to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.
He was fondly, lovingly & popularly known as “Chacha Nehru” among children. He strongly believed that children are the foundation of a society and they should be provided with a nurturing environment to produce the talented leaders & flag bearers of future India.
The children's day celebration across the country is recognized to raise awareness about the rights, care & education of children.
Also Read - Essay on Children's Day
When is Children's Day Celebrated?
Children’s day is celebrated each year on November 14 as a tribute to Nehru. He was known for his affection for the kids. In fact, he also established the Children’s Film Society India in 1955 to create native cinema for kids.
14 November Children's Day is the birthday of the great advocate Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who fought for children’s rights and for an all-inclusive education system to make knowledge accessible to all children.
Interesting Fact: 1st June is recognized as International Children's Day, and 20th November is observed as World Children’s Day.
Story Behind Children's Day: History
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s remarkable contributions to child development & education gave birth to the Children’s day celebration to mark his birth anniversary. So, every year, 14 November is a day dedicated to pay a tribute to children’s loving “Chacha Nehru”. He once said, “The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country.”
It is a significant date in India. Since 1956, we have been celebrating this day on November 20, the day World Children’s Day is celebrated by the United Nations. But after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, a resolution was passed in the Indian Parliament to mark his birthday as Children’s Day. From then, Children's day is being celebrated on 14th November to mark his birth anniversary.
India celebrated Children’s Day for the first time on 14th November 1957, following a government edict on official notice. Apart from Nehru’s birth anniversary, Children’s day is also celebrated to raise awareness towards children's education, and rights and to ensure proper care is accessible to all. Now you know why we celebrate Children's day.
Let’s take a quick glimpse at the highlights of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s life:
About Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru was India’s first Prime Minister and was born to a family of Kashmiri Brahmans on November 14, 1889. He was the son of Motilal Nehru, a renowned lawyer, and leader of the Indian independence movement.
He was a strict believer in Children’s education and claimed that every child in India has a right to education.
He was known as “Chacha Nehru” by kids as he strongly professed that children are the strength of India.
He proposed that underprivileged children also have a right to free & equal education for their overall development. This signifies the importance of Jawaharlal Nehru Children's Day.
In this initiative, he also established the iconic Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM).
Under the guidance of Gandhi, he turned out to be a leader of India’s movement for independence in 1947.
Children's Day 2022: Significance
Nehru is known for his utmost care, love & affection for children, the biggest reason why kids call them “Chacha Nehru''. Another reason is Nehru’s closeness with Mahatma Gandhi who considered him as his elder brother. It turned out that Nehru came to be known as “Chacha Nehru”.
Defining the importance of Children's Day, he worked for their education & overall development throughout his life. He was a strong advocate of the fact that a country could only flourish by ensuring the prosperity of children. Nehru laid great emphasis on education as a tool to nourish the caliber of young minds.
The day also signifies that every child, irrespective of their caste, creed, financial or political status has a right to get basic amenities including education, healthcare, and sanitation. They believed that children are the future of the nation.
Children’s Day Celebration in India
Children’s Day is celebrated all over India to honor the birth anniversary of Pandit Nehru. There are many functions, events & programs organized by schools & other educational institutions to celebrate the day with fun & motivational activities. Children are given gifts, toys, and sweets while in some schools, teachers also perform for entertaining the children.
Children’s day celebration starts with reciting stage speeches on Pandit Nehru. Children are dressed up in a particular theme like angels or as Nehru. They give stage performances, dance, sing, or even drama.
Apart from celebrating Children’s Day in schools or colleges, we, as a citizen, can bring a difference into the lives of underprivileged children. We can donate food, clothes, books, or anything that brings a smile to their faces and show our gratitude towards them. Parties & celebrations happen all the time, but by contributing even a little towards their necessities, we can make a big difference.
What are the Rights of a Child?
According to the Constitution of India, the rights of children include:
Right to get free & compulsory elementary education for all children in the 6-14 year age group
Protection from any hazardous employment or any type of abuse.
Right to get proper childhood care & education
Right to be protected from fulfilling any type of economic requirements by performing occupations unsuited to their age or strength
Right to get fair & equal opportunities for an overall development
Right to freedom & dignity and complete protection against exploitation.
Wrapping Up!
November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day across the country to mark the birth anniversary of independent India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The freedom fighter & politician was known to have the utmost affection for children and thereby was called “Chacha Nehru” by them. In the honor of his legacy towards educational initiatives & fondness for children, the day is celebrated as Children’s Day. On this Children’s Day, make a difference in a child’s life and lighten up your celebrations.
