Buds in a garden: Jawaharlal Nehru and Children’s Day in India

JAWAHARLAL Nehru is celebrated worldwide for his contributions to Indian independence, being an integral part of building a new nation and bringing forth India’s potential to the global stage through unparalleled accomplishments such as the formation of the Non Aligned Movement. Having spent 9 years in prison during the freedom struggle, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his A Tryst With Destiny speech at the stroke of the midnight hour on the 15th of August in 1947, which would go on to inspire generations of Indians well into the 21st century.  

Within India, Jawaharlal Nehru is known for having promoted education, pioneered the establishment of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), encouraged space research, commissioned the forerunner to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – and loved children. Jawaharlal Nehru has shared that “the children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country.” He called children “buds in a garden” that need to be nurtured into the citizens of tomorrow. Chacha Nehru, as he was called, emphasized the importance of investing in children and ensuring that there is access to education, good health, secure environments and the chance to enjoy their childhoods. 

Celebrating Children’s Day in India

In India, Children’s Day is celebrated on November 14th, which is the birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru. His love for children is remembered and honored on Children’s Day when schools across India celebrate the accomplishments of children and conduct fun activities, competitions and races that involve sports, painting, writing, dance and other artforms. Jawaharlal Nehru was known for wearing a red rose on his shirt button and schools still hand out real roses or paper roses to children to wear in their own shirts or in their hair as a way to remember and honor India’s first Prime Minister who valued children and saw children as the hope and future of the nation. 

Extend a helping hand for the future of India

There are many ways to do our part for the children of India. In our own lives, there may be children we know who are struggling in their academics, in their personal lives or who are from families that cannot afford much. But we can extend a helping hand to these children and give them the chance they deserve to live better lives. Be it paying for their school fees or helping them do better in their studies, investing in the life of a child has far-reaching consequences that can impact generations. We have all heard stories of accomplished individuals who would not be where they are without the help of someone in their childhood. When you invest in the life of a child, you could be helping someone who will go on to achieve great things for the world or give their own future children a better life. 

Here are 5 ways to invest in the lives of children in India: 

Spend time with a neglected child

Early childhood experiences are believed to be the foundation for all future behaviors, learnings and decision-making. If traumatic childhood experiences manifest later in life, so do healthy and enjoyable experiences. There may be children in your life who are deprived of opportunities to be children or who have no one to talk to them or listen to their problems. By spending time with children and playing, reading, painting, listening to music or simply paying attention to them instead of placing digital devices in their hands, you can change the life and future of that child.

Tutor a child struggling in school

Most children have the capabilities to perform well in school but need a helping hand in the form of tutoring or tuition classes. But this can be expensive for families who have bright and promising children – but no finances to afford extra academic help. These children can benefit from your education. For example, if you know children that attend a local-language school and have no exposure to English, you can meet them once a week to read a book in English and help improve their language skills to help them with further education and better jobs in the future. 

Sponsor a child’s education

Education is a foundation that transforms the life of a child and unlocks exciting and empowering possibilities that would otherwise be impossible. For example, children from marginalized communities do not have options to get out of their impoverished circumstances – except through education. There are also other factors that further discriminate such as girls being forced to drop out of school to do household chores and having to watch their brothers go to school instead. When you sponsor the education of a child, you give that child a world of possibilities and light a glimmer of hope for their families. 

Help the family of an underprivileged child

Families that struggle to give their children food, education or even shelter have little to no abilities to improve their children’s futures. Without finances, families cannot give their children good health or a good education and this keeps disadvantaged children trapped in a cycle of poverty. If there are families you know that are struggling to provide for their children, consider helping them with some extra food rations each month or donating your old clothes that are in good condition. What appears to be a small gesture can make a world of difference to a child.

Support a children’s NGO 

The most effective way to invest in the life of a child is to support NGOs that provide for downtrodden children. If you are interested in specific areas of improving a child’s life – such as education, midday meals or medical care – you can find NGOs on give.do that address those exact areas and keep you updated on the progress of the children in their care. Even if you might not be able to volunteer your time or skills to improving the lives of children, your support to NGOs can enable experienced organizations to transform children’s lives. 

Help a child this Children’s Day

This Children’s Day, we can invest in the lives of children by supporting NGOs that help underprivileged children go to school, receive medical care and lead safer lives. As we celebrate children and all that they bring to our world, let’s step forward to uplift the most disadvantaged children on a day that the entire country deserves to celebrate. Happy Children’s Day!

Support a children's NGO

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