Children's Day (India): Difference between revisions

Children's Day
Children's Day
Observed by	India
Type	National
Significance	To raise awareness about the rights, education, and welfare of children
Date	14 November
Next time	14 November 2026
Frequency	Annual

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Latest revision as of 17:00, 4 July 2023

Children's Day is celebrated across India to raise awareness about the rights, education, and welfare of children. It is celebrated on 14 November every year on the birthday of the first prime minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was known to have been fond of children. On this day, many educational and motivational programs for children are held all over India.^[1]Some schools in India give leave to their students on Children's Day while private schools organize a fair for their students.

History[edit | edit source]

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On November 14, 1957, a number of white pigeons were released during the function in the National Stadium.^[2] One of the pigeons came back and sat on Nehru's head.^[3]

On 5 November 1948, the first Children's Day was observed as "Flower Day" by the predecessor of Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW) to collect funds for United Nations Appeal for Children (UNAC) through the sale of "flower tokens". On 30 July 1949, "Children's Day" was widely celebrated and publicised through radio, articles, cinema, etc.^[4]

In 1951, V. M. Kulkarni, a United Nations Social Welfare Fellow, while carrying out a study on the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in the UK, realized that there was no system to look after underprivileged children of India. Inspired by the Flag Day observed in England on the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II to raise money for “Save the Child Fund”, Kulkarni presented a report recommending that Pandit Nehru’s birthday could be marked as Flag Day for collecting funds for NGOs working for child welfare in India. When Nehru’s consent was sought, he was at first embarrassed but then conceded reluctantly.^[5]

While Nehru's birthday (14 November) had publicly been celebrated all over India since 1947,^[6] with public meetings being organised to pay tribute to him and games for children being held;^[7] it was only in 1954 that the day was first celebrated as "Children's Day".^[8] More than 50,000 schoolchildren attended the celebrations in National Stadium in Delhi.^[9]^[10]

In 1957, 14 November was officially declared Children’s Day in India by a special government edict.^[11] The Government of India's Department of Posts and Telegraphs issued first day covers and three commemorative stamps on the occasion of Bal Diwas ("Children's Day").^[12]

Nehru and children[edit | edit source]

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Jawaharlal Nehru shaking hands with one of the children who had come to see the Beating of the Retreat on January 29, 1957.

Jawaharlal Nehru was affectionately called Chacha Nehru ("Uncle Nehru") by children, and their faith in him was a constant source of happiness for him.^[8] As the Prime Minister, Nehru wanted to "create an atmosphere in the country where the attention is constantly focused on children and their welfare".^[13] He had also established Children's Film Society India in 1955 so that Indian children could see themselves represented.^[14]

Nehru's concern for children and their welfare, M. O. Mathai wrote in his book My Days With Nehru (1979), "Nehru saw in their innocent faces and sparkling eyes the future of India. He was convinced that no amount of money spent on children and their mothers was too much, and that it was a sound investment for the future."^[15] When asked by Ram Narayan Chaudhary in an interview in 1958, if he was fond of children because the future of the country depended on the children, Nehru had replied, "I have always felt that the children of today will make the India of tomorrow, and, the way we bring them up will determine the future of the country."^[16]

This philosophy is expressed in the letters written by him to Indira Gandhi, his daughter, when she was a young girl. The letters were also published as books. Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929) and Glimpses of World History (1934) have gained fame as children’s non-fiction because, as Deepa Agarwal writes, "any child can respond to their warm, affectionate tone and his lucid and spontaneous style. The wealth of information woven into them and his unique approach to historical facts is an added bonus... communicating humanist values".^[17]

Sir Walter Crocker, however, mentioned in Nehru's biography Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate (1966) that Nehru did not really have time for or enjoyed the company of children.^[18] He wrote, "Nehru certainly did some acting on public occasions and before the TV cameras; but never much. The acting was never worse than the pose of Cha Cha (Uncle) Nehru with the children. This was at its worst on his birthday for a few years when sycophants organized groups of children, with flowers and copious photographing, to parade with him. It was out of character; his interest in children was slender. But his acting was on the periphery of his personality. He did not fake."^[19]

Demand to change date[edit | edit source]

In 2018, sixty MPs of BJP requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to designate 26 December as Children's Day. They suggested that December 26, the day of martyrdom of Chhote Sahibzaade (younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh) be observed as Children's Day, while November 14 be celebrated as "Chacha Diwas" in memory of Nehru.^[20]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ "Children's Day 2021: History, Significance And Celebrations". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
↑ "India Celebrates Children's Day". India News. Vol. 2, no. 21. 1 December 1957. p. 2. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
↑ Zikr-e-Dilli. "Children's Day Celebrations in New Delhi, 1957". Zikr-e-Dilli. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
↑ Barooah, Pramila Pandit (1999). Handbook on Child, with Historical Background. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-735-9. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
↑ Joshi, Shirish (12 November 2005). "How did Children's Day begin". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
↑ Indian Information. Vol. 21. 1947. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
↑ "PANDIT NEHRU'S 59TH BIRTHDAY: NATION-WIDE CELEBRATIONS". India News. Vol. IX, no. 25. 18 November 1948. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Brecher, Michael (1959). Nehru: A Political Biography. Oxford University Press. p. 25. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
↑ India, a Reference Annual. Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1955. p. 389. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
↑ "Pandit Nehru's Birthday (1954)". British Pathé (YouTube). Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
↑ Ruttonsha, Goshasp N. Satarawala (1965). Aspects of Child Welfare. Rochouse. p. 42. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
↑ "Children's Day Stamps". India News. Vol. 3, no. 1. 1 January 1958. p. 3. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
↑ Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru. 2. Vol. 33. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund. pp. 222–226. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
↑ "Children's Film Society, India". Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
↑ Mathai, M. O. (1979). "Of Animals and Children, Flowers and Plants". My Days with Nehru. p. 9.
↑ Nehru, Jawaharlal (1964). Nehru, in His Own Words: His Replies to Various Questions. Navajivan Publishing House. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
↑ "Great Storytellers for Children: Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru". The Indian Express. 22 January 2020. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
↑ Patel, Aakar. "The Jawaharlal Nehru today's India does not know". Quartz. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
↑ Crocker, Walter (2008). "The Man". Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate. Random House India. ISBN 978-81-8400-213-3. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
↑ "Shift Children's Day away from Nehru's birth anniversary, say BJP MPs". The Times of India. 7 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2019.

This India-related article is a stub. You can help Bharatpedia by expanding it.

[1] "Children's Day 2021: History, Significance And Celebrations". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.

[2] "India Celebrates Children's Day". India News. Vol. 2, no. 21. 1 December 1957. p. 2. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2021.

[3] Zikr-e-Dilli. "Children's Day Celebrations in New Delhi, 1957". Zikr-e-Dilli. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.

[4] Barooah, Pramila Pandit (1999). Handbook on Child, with Historical Background. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-735-9. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

[5] Joshi, Shirish (12 November 2005). "How did Children's Day begin". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2021.

[6] Indian Information. Vol. 21. 1947. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.

[7] "PANDIT NEHRU'S 59TH BIRTHDAY: NATION-WIDE CELEBRATIONS". India News. Vol. IX, no. 25. 18 November 1948. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.

[:0-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Brecher, Michael (1959). Nehru: A Political Biography. Oxford University Press. p. 25. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.

[9] India, a Reference Annual. Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1955. p. 389. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.

[10] "Pandit Nehru's Birthday (1954)". British Pathé (YouTube). Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.

[11] Ruttonsha, Goshasp N. Satarawala (1965). Aspects of Child Welfare. Rochouse. p. 42. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

[12] "Children's Day Stamps". India News. Vol. 3, no. 1. 1 January 1958. p. 3. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2021.

[13] Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru. 2. Vol. 33. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund. pp. 222–226. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.

[14] "Children's Film Society, India". Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.

[15] Mathai, M. O. (1979). "Of Animals and Children, Flowers and Plants". My Days with Nehru. p. 9.

[16] Nehru, Jawaharlal (1964). Nehru, in His Own Words: His Replies to Various Questions. Navajivan Publishing House. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.

[17] "Great Storytellers for Children: Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru". The Indian Express. 22 January 2020. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.

[18] Patel, Aakar. "The Jawaharlal Nehru today's India does not know". Quartz. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.

[19] Crocker, Walter (2008). "The Man". Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate. Random House India. ISBN 978-81-8400-213-3. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.

[20] "Shift Children's Day away from Nehru's birth anniversary, say BJP MPs". The Times of India. 7 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2019.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Tone|date=April 2021}}
 {{short description|Day of celebration for children and children related causes in India}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
 {{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}
 {{Infobox holiday
-|holiday_name=Children'   s Day
+| holiday_name  = Children's Day
-|type          = national
+| type          = national
-|observedby={{IND}}
+| observedby    = {{IND}}
-|scheduling    = same day each year
+| scheduling    = same day each year
-|duration      = 1 day
+| duration      = 1 day
-|frequency     = Annual
+| frequency     = Annual
-|date          = 14 November
+| date          = 14 November
-|significance= To increase awareness of the rights, care and education of children
+| significance  = To raise awareness about the rights, education, and welfare of children
 }}
+'''Children's Day''' is celebrated across India to raise awareness about the rights, education, and welfare of children. It is celebrated on 14 November every year on the birthday of the first prime minister of India [[Jawaharlal Nehru|Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]], who was known to have been fond of children. On this day, many educational and motivational programs for children are held all over India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Children's Day 2021: History, Significance And Celebrations|url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/childrens-day-2021-jawaharlal-nehru-birth-anniversary-november-14-history-significance-celebrations|access-date=2022-02-13|website=NDTV.com|language=en|archive-date=14 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214235128/https://www.ndtv.com/education/childrens-day-2021-jawaharlal-nehru-birth-anniversary-november-14-history-significance-celebrations|url-status=live}}</ref>Some schools in India give leave to their students on Children's Day while private schools organize a fair for their students.
-[[File:The President, Railway Women's Welfare Central Organization (RWWCO) Smt. Mithilesh Singh witnessing the Origami Competition for school children, organised to mark the Children's Day (Bal Diwas).jpg|thumb|Origami Competition for school children organised to mark the Children's Day (Bal Diwas), Delhi, 14 November 2004]]
+== History ==
+[[File:Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Children's Day celebrations, 14 November 1957.jpg|left|thumb|232x232px|On November 14, 1957, a number of white pigeons were released during the function in the National Stadium.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1957-12-01|title=India Celebrates Children's Day|volume=2|page=2|work=India News|issue=21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1EEqAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22India+celebrates+Children%27s+Day%22&pg=PA12-IA66|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=3 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503233927/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/India_News/1EEqAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22India+celebrates+Children%27s+Day%22&pg=PA12-IA66&printsec=frontcover|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the pigeons came back and sat on Nehru's head.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zikr-e-Dilli|title=Children's Day Celebrations in New Delhi, 1957|url=https://zikredilli.com/f/childrens-day-celebrations-in-new-delhi-1957|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Zikr-e-Dilli|language=en-IN|archive-date=11 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211183003/https://zikredilli.com/f/childrens-day-celebrations-in-new-delhi-1957|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
+On 5 November 1948, the first Children's Day was observed as "Flower Day" by the predecessor of Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW) to collect funds for United Nations Appeal for Children (UNAC) through the sale of "flower tokens". On 30 July 1949, "Children's Day" was widely celebrated and publicised through radio, articles, cinema, etc.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Barooah|first=Pramila Pandit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7aMQM4QJ7VQC&dq=%22Flower+Day%22&pg=PA161|title=Handbook on Child, with Historical Background|date=1999|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-735-9|language=en|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117205501/https://books.google.com/books?id=7aMQM4QJ7VQC&dq=%22Flower+Day%22&pg=PA161|url-status=live}}</ref>
-'''Children's Day''' is celebrated across [[India]] to increase awareness of the rights, care and [[Education in India|education]] of [[Children in India|children]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Bal-Diwas-to-mark-mulla-Nehrus-bday-on-Nov-14/articleshow/5220481.cms|title=Bal Diwas to mark mulla Nehru's B'day on Nov 5|date=11 November 2008|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=4 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aninews.in/videogallery9/30266-nobel-peace-laureate-satyarthi-celebrates-children-039-s-day-with-slum-kids.html |archive-url=https://archive.is/20141115050508/http://www.aninews.in/videogallery9/30266-nobel-peace-laureate-satyarthi-celebrates-children-039-s-day-with-slum-kids.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2014 |title=Nobel Peace laureate Satyarthi celebrates Children's Day with slum kids |publisher=Aninews.in |access-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref> It is celebrated on 14 November every year as a tribute to the birthday of India's First Prime Minister, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Known as [[Chacha Nehru]] among children, Nehru advocated for children to have all-rounded education that would build a better society in the future.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/why-november-14-celebrated-as-childrens-day/articleshow/66615202.cms|title=Why November 14 celebrated as Children's Day? |website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref> Nehru considered children as real strength of a nation and foundation of society.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/parenting/learning/storytellers-for-children-jawaharlal-mulla-6117676/|title=Children’s Day: Remembering Jawaharlal mulla as a writer for kids|date=2019-11-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-01}}</ref> On this day, many educational and motivational programs are held across India for children.
+In 1951, V. M. Kulkarni, a [[United Nations]] Social Welfare Fellow, while carrying out a study on the rehabilitation of [[Juvenile delinquency|juvenile delinquents]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], realized that there was no system to look after underprivileged children of India. Inspired by the Flag Day observed in England on the birthday of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] to raise money for “Save the Child Fund”, Kulkarni presented a report recommending that Pandit Nehru’s birthday could be marked as Flag Day for collecting funds for [[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]] working for child welfare in India. When Nehru’s consent was sought, he was at first embarrassed but then conceded reluctantly.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Joshi|first=Shirish|date=2005-11-12|title=How did Children's Day begin|work=The Tribune|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051112/saturday/main4.htm|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=1 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301043445/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051112/saturday/main4.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
-The celebration of Children's Day in India dates back to 1956. Prior to the death of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, India celebrated Children's Day on 20 November (the date observed as [[Universal Children's Day]] by the [[United Nations]]). After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, his birth anniversary was chosen to be celebrated as Children's Day in India. A resolution was passed in the parliament to give a befitting farewell to the first Prime Minister of India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why We Celebrate Children's Day On 14 Nov When UN Observes It On 20 Nov Worldwide|url=http://www.badhaai.com/2017/09/why-we-celebrate-childrens-day-on-14.html|website=badhaai.com|access-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914173200/http://www.badhaai.com/2017/09/why-we-celebrate-childrens-day-on-14.html|archive-date=14 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ianslive.in/index.php?param=news/Leena_Jumani_celebrates_Childrens_Day-453764/ENTERTAINMENT/15|title=Children's Day|author=Bollywood Country|work=IANS Live|access-date=15 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kvsrobangalore.org/gallery/index.php?level=album&id=4 |title=Children's Day celebration photos |publisher=Kvsrobangalore.org |access-date=15 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129022456/http://www.kvsrobangalore.org/gallery/index.php?level=album&id=4 |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/Bal-diwas-a-day-to-celebrate-hair/articleshow/45151966.cms|title=Bal diwas – a day to celebrate hair?|work=The Times of India|access-date=15 November 2014}}</ref>
+While Nehru's birthday (14 November) had publicly been celebrated all over India since 1947,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MABgvuNNe4QC&q=%22Pandit+Nehru%27s+58th+birthday+celebrations%22 |title=Indian Information |year=1947 |volume=21 |language= |access-date=14 April 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503233927/https://books.google.com/books?id=MABgvuNNe4QC&q=%22Pandit+Nehru%27s+58th+birthday+celebrations%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> with public meetings being organised to pay tribute to him and games for children being held;<ref>{{Cite news |date=1948-11-18 |title=PANDIT NEHRU'S 59TH BIRTHDAY: NATION-WIDE CELEBRATIONS |volume=IX |work=India News |issue=25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xn2PRp40pn4C&pg=RA9-PA1 |access-date=2 April 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503233927/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/India_News/Xn2PRp40pn4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA9-PA1&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref> it was only in 1954 that the day was first celebrated as "Children's Day".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Brecher|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQcLAQAAIAAJ&q=%22November+14th,+his+birthday,+celebrated+as+Children's+Day+since+1954%22|title=Nehru: A Political Biography|date=1959|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=25|language=en|access-date=3 May 2022|archive-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402161728/https://books.google.com/books?id=gQcLAQAAIAAJ&q=%22November+14th%2C+his+birthday%2C+celebrated+as+Children%27s+Day+since+1954%22|url-status=live}}</ref> More than 50,000 schoolchildren attended the celebrations in National Stadium in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iXhDAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Children's+Day%22|title=India, a Reference Annual|date=1955|publisher=Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|pages=389|language=en|access-date=3 May 2022|archive-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402162038/https://books.google.com/books?id=iXhDAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Children%27s+Day%22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=|title=Pandit Nehru's Birthday (1954)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWvOnt8siUQ|website=[[British Pathé]] ([[YouTube]])|access-date=13 February 2022|archive-date=13 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213111802/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWvOnt8siUQ|url-status=live}}</ref>
-==Nehru and Children==
+In 1957, 14 November was officially declared Children’s Day in India by a special government edict.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ruttonsha|first=Goshasp N. Satarawala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9m2wAAAAIAAJ&q=Children%27s+Day+Nehru|title=Aspects of Child Welfare|date=1965|publisher=Rochouse|pages=42|language=en|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117205503/https://books.google.com/books?id=9m2wAAAAIAAJ&q=Children%27s+Day+Nehru|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Government of India]]'s Department of Posts and Telegraphs issued first day covers and three commemorative stamps on the occasion of ''Bal Diwas'' ("Children's Day").<ref>{{Cite news|date=1958-01-01|title=Children's Day Stamps|volume=3|page=3|work=India News|issue=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1EEqAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22Children%27s%20Day%20Stamps%22&pg=PA12-IA65|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=3 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503233927/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/India_News/1EEqAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Children%27s+Day+Stamps%22&pg=PA12-IA65&printsec=frontcover|url-status=live}}</ref>
-Jawaharlal Nehru had immense hope and confidence in the children of India because they "can play together {{sic|?|wihtout}} thinking of differences".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/why-november-14-celebrated-as-childrens-day/articleshow/66615202.cms|title=Why November 14 celebrated as Children's Day? |website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref> He established [[Children's Film Society|Children's Film Society India]] in 1955 so that Indian children could see themselves represented. He enabled the establishment of some very prominent educational institutions in India. It was his vision that led to the establishment of [[All India Institutes of Medical Sciences|AIIMS]] for medicine, the [[Indian Institutes of Technology|IITs]] for engineering and the IIMs for management studies. Nehru's legacy continues to educate the children of India. He is known to have said, "The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/about/when-is-children-s-day|title=When Is Children's Day|website=Business Standard|access-date=2021-02-21}}</ref> This philosophy is expressed in the letters written by him to [[Indira Gandhi]], his daughter, when she was a young girl. The letters were also published as books. ''[[Letters from a Father to His Daughter]]'' (1929) and ''[[Glimpses of World History]]'' (1934) have gained fame as children’s non-fiction because, as Deepa Agarwal writes, "any child can respond to their warm, affectionate tone and his lucid and spontaneous style. The wealth of information woven into them and his unique approach to historical facts is an added bonus... communicating humanist values".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/parenting/learning/storytellers-for-children-jawaharlal-nehru-6117676/|title=Great Storytellers for Children: Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru|website=The Indian Express|access-date=2021-02-21}}</ref>
-children have lot of fun activities on this day, ranging from wonderful morning assemblies to dance party'. Children are the centre of attraction during this day and many schools throw a party on this day to make children feel special.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
-== Google Doodle ==
+==Nehru and children ==
-In November 2018, [[Google doodle|Google's doodle]] on Children's Day was designed to depict a child looking at a sky dotted with stars with a telescope. Crafted by a student from Mumbai, the design had won the 2018 ‘Doodle 4 Google’ competition in India for her fascination with space exploration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/childrens-day-2018-google-doodle-today-space-exploration-5445248/|title=Children’s Day 2018 celebrated with a Google doodle on space exploration|date=2018-11-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref>
+[[File:Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru with children.jpg|thumb|260x260px|Jawaharlal Nehru shaking hands with one of the children who had come to see the Beating of the Retreat on January 29, 1957.]]
+Jawaharlal Nehru was affectionately called ''Chacha Nehru'' ("Uncle Nehru") by children, and their faith in him was a constant source of happiness for him.<ref name=":0" /> As the Prime Minister, Nehru wanted to "create an atmosphere in the country where the attention is constantly focused on children and their welfare".<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://nehruselectedworks.com/pdfviewer.php?style=UI_Zine_Material.xml&subfolder=&doc=May_1956-June_1956-Series2-Vol33.pdf&#124;12&#124;616#page=258 |title=Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru |publisher=Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund |series=2 |volume=33 |pages=222–226 |access-date=3 May 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503233930/https://nehruselectedworks.com/pdfviewer.php?style=UI_Zine_Material.xml&subfolder=&doc=May_1956-June_1956-Series2-Vol33.pdf%7C12%7C616#page=258 |url-status=live }}</ref> He had also established [[Children's Film Society|Children's Film Society India]] in 1955 so that Indian children could see themselves represented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Children's Film Society, India |url=https://www.cfsindia.org/about-cfsi/who-we-are/ |access-date=2022-02-20 |language=en |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220162641/https://www.cfsindia.org/about-cfsi/who-we-are/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-In 2018, after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, sixty BJP MPs have requested him to designate 26 December as the new Children's Day in India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shift-childrens-day-away-from-nehrus-birth-anniv-say-bjp-mps/articleshow/63650332.cms|title=Shift Children's Day away from Nehru's birth anniversary, say BJP MPs|date=7 April 2018|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=4 April 2019}}</ref>
+Nehru's concern for children and their welfare, [[M. O. Mathai]] wrote in his book ''My Days With Nehru'' (1979), "Nehru saw in their innocent faces and sparkling eyes the future of India. He was convinced that no amount of money spent on children and their mothers was too much, and that it was a sound investment for the future."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mathai |first=M. O. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.147284 |title=My Days with Nehru |year=1979 |pages=9 |chapter=Of Animals and Children, Flowers and Plants}}</ref> When asked by [[Ram Narayan Chaudhary]] in an interview in 1958, if he was fond of children because the future of the country depended on the children, Nehru had replied, "I have always felt that the children of today will make the India of tomorrow, and, the way we bring them up will determine the future of the country."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nehru|first=Jawaharlal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hA0-AAAAMAAJ&q=%22children+of+today+will+make+the+India+of+tomorrow%22|title=Nehru, in His Own Words: His Replies to Various Questions|date=1964|publisher=Navajivan Publishing House|language=en|access-date=10 March 2022|archive-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402162037/https://books.google.com/books?id=hA0-AAAAMAAJ&q=%22children+of+today+will+make+the+India+of+tomorrow%22|url-status=live}}</ref>
+This philosophy is expressed in the letters written by him to [[Indira Gandhi]], his daughter, when she was a young girl. The letters were also published as books. ''[[Letters from a Father to His Daughter]]'' (1929) and ''[[Glimpses of World History]]'' (1934) have gained fame as children’s non-fiction because, as Deepa Agarwal writes, "any child can respond to their warm, affectionate tone and his lucid and spontaneous style. The wealth of information woven into them and his unique approach to historical facts is an added bonus... communicating humanist values".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/parenting/learning/storytellers-for-children-jawaharlal-nehru-6117676/|title=Great Storytellers for Children: Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru|website=The Indian Express|date=22 January 2020|access-date=2021-02-21|archive-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101035452/https://indianexpress.com/article/parenting/learning/storytellers-for-children-jawaharlal-nehru-6117676/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+[[Walter Crocker|Sir Walter Crocker]], however, mentioned in Nehru's biography ''[[Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate]]'' (1966) that Nehru did not really have time for or enjoyed the company of children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Aakar |title=The Jawaharlal Nehru today's India does not know |url=https://qz.com/india/463197/the-jawaharlal-nehru-todays-india-does-not-know/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Quartz |language=en |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402120601/https://qz.com/india/463197/the-jawaharlal-nehru-todays-india-does-not-know/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He wrote, "Nehru certainly did some acting on public occasions and before the TV cameras; but never much. The acting was never worse than the pose of ''Cha Cha'' (Uncle) Nehru with the children. This was at its worst on his birthday for a few years when sycophants organized groups of children, with flowers and copious photographing, to parade with him. It was out of character; his interest in children was slender. But his acting was on the periphery of his personality. He did not fake."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Crocker |first=Walter |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hQ8p4XTRZgEC&dq=%22It+was+out+of+character%3B+his+interest+in+children+was+slender%22&pg=PT76 |title=Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate |publisher=Random House India |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-8400-213-3 |language= |chapter=The Man |access-date=14 April 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503233929/https://books.google.com/books?id=hQ8p4XTRZgEC&dq=%22It+was+out+of+character%3B+his+interest+in+children+was+slender%22&pg=PT76 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+== Demand to change date ==
+In 2018, sixty [[Member of Parliament (India)|MPs]] of [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] requested the Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] to designate 26 December as Children's Day. They suggested that December 26, [[Saka Sirhind|the day of martyrdom of ''Chhote Sahibzaade'']] (younger sons of [[Guru Gobind Singh]]) be observed as Children's Day, while November 14 be celebrated as "Chacha Diwas" in memory of Nehru.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-07 |title=Shift Children's Day away from Nehru's birth anniversary, say BJP MPs |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shift-childrens-day-away-from-nehrus-birth-anniv-say-bjp-mps/articleshow/63650332.cms |access-date=13 March 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032305/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shift-childrens-day-away-from-nehrus-birth-anniv-say-bjp-mps/articleshow/63650332.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
 == References ==
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 [[Category: November observances]]
 [[Category: Monuments and memorials to Jawaharlal Nehru]]
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