Children’s Day 2023: Children’s Day is celebrated in India on 14 November every year. Today is the birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and one of the important leaders of the Indian independence movement. Jawaharlal Nehru loved children and his birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day to commemorate his dedication to the care, education and welfare of children.
International Children’s Day
Internationally this was established in 1925 at the World Conference on Child Welfare in Geneva. On November 4, 1949, the Women’s International Democratic Federation in Moscow declared June 1 as the International Day for the Protection of Children. Since the 1950s, many communist and post-communist countries have celebrated June 1 as Children’s Day. The General Assembly recommended on 14 December 1954 that all countries establish a Universal Children’s Day, to be celebrated as a day of universal brotherhood and understanding among children. The day was proposed to be observed as a day of action dedicated to the goals and objectives of the UN Charter and the welfare of the world’s children. The Assembly advised the governments to celebrate the day on the date and in the manner they see fit.
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On 20 November 1959, the Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, and on 20 November 1989, it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Convention, the most widely recognized international human rights treaty, establishes several children’s rights, including the right to life, health, education, and play, as well as the right to family life, protection from violence, non-discrimination, and rights to hear their voice.
Based on the Convention and the collective efforts of all countries and territories, it was decided that World Children’s Day would promote and celebrate children’s rights and continue to develop a child-friendly environment around the world through dialogue and activities.
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Celebration in India
On November 5, 1948, the director of the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) designated the first Children’s Day as “Flower Day” to raise money for the United Nations Children’s Appeal (UNAC) by selling “flower tokens”. On July 30, 1949, “Children’s Day” was widely honored and popularized by radio, articles, films, and other media.
While researching the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in the United Kingdom in 1951, United Nations Social Welfare Fellow V.M. Kulkarni observed that there is no structure to care for underprivileged children in India. Inspired by Flag Day, which was celebrated in England on Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday to generate cash for the “Save the Child Fund”, Kulkarni submitted a report recommending that Pandit Nehru’s birthday was chosen as the day to raise funds for Indian non-governmental organizations working for the welfare of children. When Kulkarni requested permission, Nehru initially refused it but later reluctantly agreed.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Birthday
Although Nehru’s birthday (November 14) has been known for public parades and children’s games in India since 1947, it was not until 1954 that the first day was celebrated as “Children’s Day”. More than 50,000 students attended the ceremony held at the National Stadium in Delhi.
In 1957, a special government order designated November 14 as Children’s Day in India. On the occasion of Bal Divas (“Children’s Day”), the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, Government of India, issued first-day covers and three commemorative stamps.
Nehru had a great affinity for the youth and believed in their ability to decide the future of the country. Children in India refer to him as “Chacha Nehru” (Uncle Nehru).
Children’s Day was chosen as a tribute to his affection for children and his dedication to their welfare and education. The day is dedicated to promoting the welfare and rights of children as well as commemorating Nehru’s achievements in the country. The festival seeks to create awareness about the rights, care, and education of children and their importance in the growth of a nation.
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