2020 Children’s Day: Why India celebrates ‘Bal Diwas’ on the birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru

Every year, Children’s Day is celebrated across India on November 14. Also known as Bal Diwas, the day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of the former and first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, fondly addressed by kids as ‘Chacha Nehru.’ He was known for his fondness for kids. Nehru was born in 1889 and established the Indian Children’s Film Society to establish indigenous cinema exclusively for children.

Kids are the foundation of society and the citizens of tomorrow, according to Nehru. They are the country’s strength and future and should be nurtured lovingly. He believed that they could make progress by providing the right education for children and young people. Nehru acknowledged that the nation’s strength lies with children who can be chief architects in order to develop a future developed society.

Nehru became an advocate for better children’s education and left behind a legacy of higher education for the young, in addition to being a stalwart of the struggle for freedom. He took care of the establishment of leading educational institutions in India since Independence. It was his vision that made it possible to establish the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indian Technology Institutes (IITs), and Indian Management Institutes (IIMs).

On the same day as the United Nations before 1964, i.e., on November 20, India celebrated Children’s Day. Later, however, it was decided that Pandit Nehru’s birthday will be celebrated as Children’s Day after his death as a way to remember him.

Children’s Day is celebrated with full gusto in India. Schools host and plan various children’s events and special activities. Music and dance performances, competitions for essay writing, are arranged to celebrate the occasion and cheer up the children. On this day, many educational and motivational programs are conducted by government agencies, NGOs, and other forums to promote their rights.