On July 9 every year, India celebrates National Students Day.
On July 9, 1949, student organization Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad was founded on the ideals of Swami Vivekananda as a platform for constructive student activism. National Students Day is celebrated each year to mark the foundation day of the organization.
History
After Independence, the entire country dreamt of making a modern nation, keeping in mind the pride and glory of the traditions being followed since eons.
To realize this dream, youths, imbued with a zeal and commitment, commenced on a movement, centered around the college and university campuses across the country.
A national forum of these activities was formalised and registered on the July 9, 1949 in the form of a student organisation – The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
ABVVP was established in the year 1948, but it was formally established on 9 July 1949 when it was registered. It was founded by a group of students and teachers, in its initial phase it was called activism, but in 1958, after the appointment of Professor Yashwantrao Kelkar of Mumbai as its chief convener, its activism increased significantly and it expanded to spread across the country.
About the ABVP
The ABVP has been active in Indian student politics for more than seven decades and has significant influence across the country.
RSS-affiliated ABVP has around 30 lakh students as its members.
Its official website ABVP “aims to achieve its objective by bringing about positive and meaningful changes in education and in the mind and thoughts of educational fraternity like students, teacher and society.” ABVP is said be the largest student body in the world.
Beginning with the Bhartiyakaran Campaign in 1949, ABVP has been behind many major movements. It has initiated literacy campaigns with a focus on rural education in India. ABVP made its electoral debut in 1970.
Its social platforms and forums include Student for Development (SFD), World Organisation of Students and Youth (WOSY), Think India, Students’ Experience in Interstate Living (SEIL) and Yuva Vikas Kendra (YVK).
