Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 137th birth anniversary on Saturday, November 14, a day also observed across the country as Children’s Day.
India marks Children’s Day on November 14 to honor the birth anniversary of Nehru, who was widely known as ‘Chacha Nehru’ due to his fondness for children. Following Nehru’s death on May 27, 1964, Parliament unanimously passed a resolution to observe his birthday as National Children’s Day, shifting the date from November 20, which the United Nations had declared as Universal Children’s Day in 1954.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the principal architect of modern India. He understood that a nation as diverse as ours could only be held together by Democracy; one that embraced different cultures, beliefs, political voices and aspirations. As we pay our solemn tributes to him at… pic.twitter.com/bkOZzhjznR
Did You Know? Jawaharlal Nehru was born in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on November 14, 1889, and assumed office as India’s first prime minister on August 15, 1947, following his active role in the country’s freedom struggle.
Tributes From National Leaders
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, “Paying tribute to former PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary.”
Pandit Nehru — the maker of modern India. 21st India cannot be imagined without his tremendous contribution. pic.twitter.com/J4CG019ebz
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also honored the country’s first prime minister, highlighting his role in shaping the newly independent nation.
In a post on X, Singh stated, “On the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ji, I pay my tributes to him. His contribution to India’s freedom struggle and his leadership as the first Prime Minister of independent India left an enduring imprint on the formative years of our nation,” according to his official account.
Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi offered his own homage on X, describing Nehru as the “jewel of India”. Gandhi said that freedom was not a final destination but “a milestone in the nation’s new journey”, adding that Swaraj involved every citizen’s participation and responsibility.
LoP Shri @RahulGandhi paid floral tributes to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji, India's first Prime Minister, on his birth anniversary in Hyderabad. 📍 Telangana pic.twitter.com/TSMHZ3sjKk
Expert Insight: The 137th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru provides an opportunity to recover a Nehru for contemporary times.
Commemorative Events Nationwide
Schools across India observe the anniversary with various student activities, including games and competitions. Government bodies similarly organize commemorative events to mark the occasion.
Gandhi recalled Nehru’s vision of an India built on diversity, democracy, and equality. “Their dream of a modern, scientific, progressive, and self-confident India remains our inspiration today,” he said, noting that working toward such a nation constitutes the true tribute to the former leader.
Historical Reflections on Leadership
There was no “settled life of routine”, Nehru wrote, as “there was frequent talk of my arrest”. Reflecting on colonial governance, he wrote, “There are no democratic institutions or traditions,” while characterizing the British Raj as having a well-established practice of ordinance and dictatorial rule.
Paying heartfelt tributes to India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji, on his birth anniversary. Wishing a very Happy Children’s Day to all the bright, cheerful kids out there. You are the future of India and will surely take our nation to new heights. However,…
Among the literary works examining this era are Rabindranath Tagore’s Nationalism, B.R. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste, C.L.R.
Questions About Children's Day in India
When is Children’s Day observed in India?
Children’s Day is observed annually on November 14 to coincide with Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary.
Why was Jawaharlal Nehru called ‘Chacha Nehru’?
He was popularly known as ‘Chacha Nehru’ because of his well-known affection for children.
When did November 14 officially become National Children’s Day?
Following Nehru’s death in 1964, the Indian Parliament unanimously passed a resolution to mark his birth anniversary as National Children’s Day.
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