Children’s Day at MLSI

Why do we celebrate children’s day? It is the birth anniversary of our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was fondly known as Chacha Nehru, and he loved children. A few facts about Jawaharlal Nehru:

• Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru came from a family of migrant Kashmiri Pandits.
• Jawaharlal Nehru was educated at home by English tutors until the age of 16. He was also taught in Hindi and Sanskrit to keep him rooted in India’s composite culture.
• In 1905, Jawahar went to England for further education and qualified to become a Barrister.
• Jawaharlal Nehru’s passion to practice law was, however, short-lived. Mahatama Gandhi’s ideology of fighting British imperialism without fear or hate attracted him.
• Jawaharlal Nehru blended a fine sensitivity of mind, a rare understanding of serious issues at home and abroad.

Pandit Nehru emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children and has said: “the children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country”.

“Firstly, we want to celebrate the spirit of our school, by honoring and celebrating all you children, who mean so much to us. Ask any of us here today, we are in the profession of teaching, and spend so much of our time in these four walls, because we truly enjoy being with all of you.”

Do you think we celebrate children’s day only in India?

Well, there are varying dates about this internationally. International Children’s Day began in Turkey on the 23rd of April 1920. It was later given recognition at the Geneva World Conference for the Well-Being of Children in 1925. Once the conference was over, the governments of most countries agreed to select one day as International Children’s Day. Universal Children’s Day is celebrated each year on the 20th November.

The United States of America did not have a dedicated Children’s Day for a long time. Here is a look at the chain of events that shaped it to the way it is celebrated today. In the year 1998, a six-year-old boy wrote a letter to President Bill Clinton, who wanted to know if the president would declare a day as Children’s Day for him. In response, President Bill Clinton proclaimed 11th of October to be held as Children’s Day.

In the year 2001, the then President George W. Bush proclaimed 3rd June as the National Child’s Day. Ever since then, the first Sunday in June has been celebrated as Children’s Day in the US, which has recently been changed to the second Sunday in the month of June.

In India, we have always celebrated Children’s Day on the 14th of November to  mark the birthday of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, who was the first and longest serving prime minister of India, from 1947 – 64.

At our school, the teachers put up a dance for the students, and then sang a medley of songs. The Primary Section and the Middle Years sections then danced with their teachers. The School captain thanked the teachers for putting their best foot forward, and performing for them with so much energy. It was wonderful to see the teachers display talent, and give so much of their enthusiasm for the students.