Children's Day 2023 || 14th Nov 2023

Children's day :

Children's Day is celebrated across India to raise awareness about the rights, education, and welfare of children. It is celebrated on 14 November every year on the birthday of the First Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was known to have been fond of children. On this day, many educational and motivational programs for children are held all over India.

India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru 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" and with Children's Day just around the corner, we could not help but reflect on the same. They say it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men and rightly so, since kids are like wet cement: whatever falls on them makes an impression so, we have to love our children unselfishly as they are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.

Date :

Every year, Children’s Day is celebrated all across India on November 14. This day was chosen to celebrate as Children’s Day after the death of India’s first prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, adorably referred to as Chacha Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru celebrated his birthday on November 14. Nehru was a great advocate for children’s right and for an all-inclusive education system where knowledge is accessible to all. He believed that children are the future of the country and the foundation of a society, and hence, everyone’s well-bring should be taken care of.

History :

India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was born to a family of Kashmiri Brahmans on November 14, 1889. His family, who were noted for their administrative aptitude and scholarship, had migrated to Delhi early in the 18th century. He was a son of Motilal Nehru, a renowned lawyer and leader of the Indian independence movement, who became one of Mahatma Gandi’s prominent associates. Jawaharlal was the eldest of four children, two of whom were girls. A sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, later became the first woman president of the United Nations General Assembly.

It is believed that Nehru was known as “Chacha Nehru” by children because he believed that children were the strength of India. However, as another story, the former Prime Minister was called “chacha” because of his closeness with Gandi, whom all referred to as ‘Bapu’. Hence, people suggested the nickname ‘chacha’ for Jawaharlal Nehru as he was seen as the younger brother of the father of the nation.

Nehru, under the guidance of Gandhi, turned out to be a leader of India’s struggle for independence in 1947. He laid the foundation of independent India as sovereign, socialist, secular, and a democratic republic. For this, Nehru is credited as the architect of modern India. 

After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, a resolution was passed in the parliament unanimously to honor him, declaring his birth anniversary as the official date of Children’s Day. India used to celebrate Children’s Day on November 20 every year before 1956 as the United Nations, in 1954, had declared the day as Universal Children’s Day. Therefore, each year since then, November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of the country’s first PM.

Now, to mark Children’s Day, schools organize fun and motivational functions. Many prepare a Children’s Day speech. In many schools, children are asked to ditch school uniforms and wear party clothes. It’s a joyous occasion for all children, parents and teachers.

Significance :

Adorably referred to as Chacha Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru believed that children are the future of the country and the foundation of a society. Apart from Nehru’s birth anniversary, Children’s Day is also celebrated to raise awareness on children education, rights and to see that proper care is accessible to all.

Celebration :

Children’s Day is celebrated in an adorable fashion, all over the country. This the day when children are showered with a lot of love, gifts and pampering. Children’s Day is observed in schools, where the teachers put up programmes and entertaining performances for the children who are also showered with gifts that consist of eatables, books and cards.

Children’s Day in India is a greatly anticipated day, as students look forward to seeing their teachers put on performances in schools for their entertainment. During the first two years of coronavirus pandemic, many schools took to organising entire celebrations through online platforms like Zoom.

With lockdowns lifted and schools reopened now, we can observe the significance for the safety, well-being and education of the children, especially those that have been severely affected by the pandemic. So, this children’s day, let us enable learning, prioritize kids health and ensure their well-being.

                                     [ Children meets congress president Rahul Gandhi ]

Student from various school meet the president DroupadiMurmu on ChildrensDay2022 at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC)

CHILDREN'S DAY DATES :

Year	Date	Day
2022	November 14	Monday
2023	November 14	Tuesday
2024	November 14	Thursday
2025	November 14	Friday
2026	November 14	Saturday