India celebrates Children’s Day, or Bal Diwas, every year on November 14 to honor its young citizens.
This date marks the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, fondly called “Chacha Nehru” because of his love for children.
Contributions of Jawaharlal Nehru:
1. Political Sector:
Unification of India: Nehru helped unite a diverse, newly independent India, promoting secularism and democracy for a pluralistic society.
Constitutional Reforms: Nehru supported the Indian Constitution (1950), ensuring universal suffrage, fundamental rights and social justice.
2. Economic Sector:
Industrialization: Nehru championed state-led industrialization, establishing key industries like the Bhilai Steel Plant and IITs for economic progress and innovation.
Five-Year Plans: He introduced Five-Year Plans focused on economic development, starting with agriculture and later expanding to industry, infrastructure and education.
3. Education and Scientific Development:
Promotion of Education: Nehru expanded education access, founded IITs, AIIMS and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and focused on improving literacy.
Scientific Research: Nehru supported scientific institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Atomic Energy Commission and ISRO, promoting progress through science and technology.
Sanskrit and Arts: Nehru promoted cultural preservation and modernity, establishing institutions like the National Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art.
4. Foreign Policy:
Non-Alignment and International Diplomacy: Nehru led India’s non-alignment policy, promoting peace and cooperation through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Relationship with Neighboring Countries: Nehru sought peaceful relations with neighbors, but tensions with Pakistan and China remained, especially over Kashmir and the 1962 war and Panchsheel Agreement (Signed with China in 1954), emphasizing peaceful coexistence.
Focus on Developing Countries: Nehru supported decolonization, advocating for the independence and self-determination of nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
5. Social Sector
Social Justice and Equality: Nehru worked to uplift marginalized communities through affirmative action and anti-untouchability laws.
Women’s Empowerment: Nehru’s Hindu Code Bill (1955) gave women more rights in marriage, divorce and inheritance, advancing gender equality.
World Children’s Day World Children’s Day was established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and celebrated annually on November 20.This year’s theme for World Children’s Day, “For every child, every right,” highlights the need to ensure all children have access to basic rights, such as education, food, housing, sanitation, and protection from harm. It reminds the world that every child deserves a safe and supportive environment to grow into empowered and responsible citizens.
