New Delhi: To recognise and celebrate the works of educators including teachers, researchers and professors, India observes Teacher’s Day on September 5. Teachers’ Day marks the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Born on September 5, 1888, Dr Radhakrishnan was the first Vice-President of India and the second President of India.
Since 1962, September 5 has been celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India to honor Dr Radhakrishnan’s remarkable approach toward education and students. But do you know why this date has been chosen to celebrate?
When some of his students visited Dr Radhakrishna one day in 1962 to wish him a happy birthday, the custom of observing his birthday as Indian Teachers’ Day was started. He urged them to recognise this day (September 5) as a way to honour and remember all the outstanding teachers from Bangladesh and India.
Dr Radhakrishnan was an ace student and received various scholarships throughout his life. He studied philosophy at the Christian College, Madras. He is considered one of the greatest philosophers in the history of India to date.
After Dr Radhakrishnan completed his degree, he became a Professor of Philosophy at Madras Presidency College and then subsequently Professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore.
Dr Radhakrishnan served as the first Vice-President of India from 1952 to 1962 and the second President of India from 1962 to 1967. He was also the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952. Dr Radhakrishnan also served as the fourth Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948. In 1984, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Some of his notable works include Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy, Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore, The Hindu View of Life, Kalki or the Future of Civilisation, An Idealist View of Life, The Religion We Need, India and China, and Gautama the Buddha.
On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, President Droupadi Murmuwill also be conferring the national awards to teachers. The awards will be presented to teachers across the country.
