Children’s Day

History and Customs

Apart from your birthday, if there is any other day you can feel special, its 14th November. The day that is known as the children’s day is actually the birthday of Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. It is his affection for children that made his birthday, children’s day.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889 to Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani. He was extremely intelligent and well educated, and was the perfect blend between traditional values and forward thinking.

Despite his economic stature and education, he took part in the India’s struggle for freedom playing an active, and served the country well. He is also known for his writing skills with books such as Glimpses of World History’ and ‘Discovery of India.

Why did Jawaharlal Nehru love children so much?

The answer is quite simple. Pandit Nehru saw children as the future. He believed in their innocence and their ability to choose to do the right thing.

For him, children were synonymous to innocence and he saw in them, the picture of the future. When you grow up to be what you dream of, you will be doing it well for your country too.

Your friends you play with, go to school with and meet, will all grow up and pursue their interests and dreams. It will be in all your hands to make the country and the world, a better place than it is. It was this strong belief of this man that lead to recognizing his birthday as the children’s day. It was this strong belief and affection that made children call him “Chacha Nehru”.

Children’s day is celebrated the world over. Other countries do not celebrate it as Chacha Nehru’s birthday but they recognize the spirit of children and their role in shaping the future. While the international children’s day is on 20th November and is celebrated in many parts of the world, many countries also celebrate it on June 1st.

There are other countries that still have their own recognized children’s day.

For example in Japan, children’s day is a national holiday and is celebrated on 5th May as well a separate children’s day for girls is celebrated on 3rd March.

The first children’s day in the world was celebrated by Turkey in the year 1920. In India, the first children’s day was celebrated in the year 1964, after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death.

No matter what date the children’s day is celebrated in other parts of the world, the importance and the hope in children is universal. It is you who holds the key to shape the future of the world. The first prime minister of India firmly believed that.

Project :

Children play an important role in society because they are tomorrow’s leaders. Look online to research some amazing feats that have been done by children. For example, how young is the youngest person to scale Mt Everest? Who is the youngest actor to ever win an Academy Award?

To read more interesting festivals for kids, click HERE