Munawar Zama addresses Vidhana Soudha on National Education Day

Bengaluru: On National Education Day, international motivational speaker and English House Academy founder and CEO Munawar Zama addressed a gathering at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, November 11.

The day is observed on the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Minority Welfare, UT Khader, and Legislative Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed felicitated Zama.

Addressing ministers, legislators, educationists, and students as a special guest speaker, Zama emphasised that a nation’s true strength lies in the knowledge, wisdom, and character of its people.

Highlighting the changing employment landscape, he said that in an era driven by artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and data science, academic qualifications alone were no longer sufficient. Practical skills, adaptability and competence were essential for success.

‘Not just education, but education with character’

“India does not merely need educated individuals; it needs educated individuals with character. Degrees may open doors, skills create opportunities, but integrity and discipline make individuals worthy of responsibility,” he said.

Drawing inspiration from Swami Vivekananda, Zama also highlighted the importance of character over outward appearance, reinforcing his message that education must shape both intellect and conduct.

Among those who attended the programme were Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi, Kaneez Fatima, MLA and KSIC Chairperson, Kalaburagi; Rahim Khan, MLA, Bidar; Dr Syed Mohd Ali Al Hussaini, Chairman, Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, eminent physiotherapist Dr Hakeem, renowned educationist Mohammed Ashfaque, and podcaster Habeebur Rahman.

Only last year, Zama was honoured with the Pride of India Award by the then CM, Siddaramaiah, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to nation-building through his personality development and character-building workshops.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.