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International Students’ Day is commemorated in memory of the bravery of thousands of student activists in Prague, during the Nazi attack, who fought for the right to higher education.
International Students’ Day is observed on November 17. (Image: Shutterstock)
International Students’ Day is observed on November 17. The day is commemorated in memory of the bravery of thousands of student activists in Prague, during the Nazi attack, who fought for the right to higher education. The Nazi forces occupied the Czech Republic on November 17, 1939 and executed nine protesters without trial. They also detained more than 1,200 students and sent them to concentration camps. Only a few survived in the camp.
To mark this loss of 1,200 University of Prague students’ lives, the first observance was held at London’s International Students’ Council in 1941. It was this moment that university students decided to introduce the day as International Students’ Day.
International Students’ Day Quotes
- “Learning is a continuous process; no one can stop you until you stop learning.”–Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
- “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”–Malcolm X
- “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited.”–Plutarch
- “The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.”–B.B. King
- “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”–Minor Myers Jr
- “Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community.”– African Proverb
- “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”–Vince Lombardi
- “Excellence happens not by accident, but as a result of constant and continuous improvement.”–Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
- “Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”–Nelson Mandela
- “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”– Mahatma Gandhi
International Students’ Day Wishes
- Happy International Students Day to my brightest minds. I wish you a life where you become successful, wealthy and play leadership roles in many aspects of your profession.
- Best of luck to you for your bright future and career! I believe you all can exceed the Greatest heights! Happy International Students Day to all!
- You have all it takes to be successful. Keep making me proud of you. Happy students’ day.
- Till we are living, we are learning. That makes us all students our entire lives. Happy International Students’ Day to everyone.
- Be your own inspiration. Be your own role model. Very best wishes to you on this student’s day.
- Studying is not an easy task, but once you learn to enjoy it, you will be able to achieve great things because you all have the potential to succeed. Happy Students Day.
- Failure is the pillar to success, so even when you fail, don’t give up and keep studying and working hard. You will succeed one day for sure. Happy International Students Day.
- Everything can be lost or stolen except your knowledge and wisdom. Happy International Students Day!
- Don’t think about mistakes, focus on your efforts. This is the biggest thing a student does. Lots of wishes on International Students’ Day!
- Dream a lot. Work even harder. Then one day, all your dreams will transform into reality. Happy International Students’ Day!
International Students’ Day: Messages To Share
- Life is all about new opportunities and chances. You just have to know how to grab them at the right moment. All the best wishes on this day.
- I wish you all a happy student day. I hope and pray that you all achieve everything you set out to do.
- Warm wishes to you on International Students’ Day. You have infinite potential, even if you don’t realise it.
- When you look back on your life, there are a few things you are always going to miss. One of those things is to live life as a student. No matter how boring it looks now, it will be the most wonderful phase of life. Happy International Students’ Day!
- Be your own sunshine, make yourself worthy of every success. Always preserve in your heart the desire to learn. Enjoy the Student’s Day to the fullest.
- Each day, each effort will bring you closer to your goals. Keep learning, keep working hard and keep smiling every day to enjoy the fruits of your efforts in life. Best wishes on International Students’ Day.
- Being a student is great as there are so many new things in the world to learn about. Happy International Students Day to you!
- There is no shortcut to success and therefore, you must never compromise on your dedication. Happy International Students’ Day to you!
- Students are the future and backbone of any society. You have a big responsibility on your shoulders. Understand it well and play your role faithfully. Happy International Students’ Day!
- Student life is all about exploring new ideas and working on them to bring inventions. Happy International Students’ Day!
International Students’ Day: History
When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, the Third Reich started aggressive claims over territories outside Germany’s borders, according to consolidated reports.
In 1938, the Nazis first took over Austria, Hitler’s home country. Then, they forced Czechoslovakia to surrender half of its territories. Germany, on the other hand, occupied the Czech regions, forcing Slovakia to divide into a satellite state.
ALSO READ: Why APJ Abdul Kalam’s Birth Anniversary is Celebrated as World Students’ Day?
In 1939, the Medical Faculty students at Charles University, Prague conducted a meeting to commemorate the formation of an independent Czechoslovak Republic.
However, the Nazis brutally suppressed the gathering, resulting in labourer Václav Sedláček and student Jan Opletal’s deaths. Consequently, the students formed an anti-Nazi demonstration and staged a protest.
In response, the Nazi authorities took severe measures, closing all Czech universities, detaining over 1,200 students, and sending them to Sachsenhausen and other concentration camps.
On November 17, they also killed nine professors and students without a trial. Throughout 1941, efforts were made to persuade students in other countries to commemorate November 17 as a day of remembrance, honouring and encouraging the struggle for freedom and democracy globally as well as resistance against the Nazis.
Later, the NUS Vice President Lena Chivers, Zink, Paleček, and Kavan conducted the majority of these negotiations, and ultimately fourteen nations came to a consensus and signed the ensuing declaration.
International Students’ Day: Significance
Even today, several nations struggle with the right to education and peaceful protest.
With the aim to protect the rights of the youth, International Students’ Day is commemorated by students and educational institutions worldwide. This not only includes the right to education but also making them understand the importance of raising their voices for their rights.
International Students Day serves as an opportunity to students when they meet and organise events in their universities, insisting on supporting multiculturalism and their right to education.
Some students also share information on social media to let others know about the power of students.
