In India every 5th of September is observed as Teachers Day which marks the birth anniversary of former President, politician, scholar and Bharat Ratna recipient, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan who was born on 5th of September 1888.
Dr. Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President, second President of Independent India, and the first ever Teacher Day was celebrated in 1962, when Dr. Radhakrishnan assumed his presidential role. Dr. Radhakrishnan was an intellectual believer.
When some of his students approached him and asked him to celebrate his birthday Dr. Radhakrishnan said: ‘It would be my proud privilege to observe September 5 as Teacher’s Day instead of celebrating my birthday separately.’ Since then, the day of teachers in India has been observed on 5 September.
Dr. Radhakrishnan achieved many outstanding accomplishments in his life and was also given several honours. His first book, The Rabindranath Tagore Philosophy, was published in 1917 and based on Indian philosophy. From 1931 to 1936 he taught at Chennai President College and the University of Calcutta, and was also Vice Chancellor of the University of Andhra Pradesh.
Importance of Teacher’s Day
He teaches the importance the education the main foundation of education is formed with the help of teachers. They play a vital role while educating us. Teachers are a source of knowledge that ensures that their experience is carried on to their students who help create a future better world. It will lead to a young, brainy population that understands and does not convince the world through emotion but through rationality and reality. This is what the future is like.
One of Dr Radhakrishnan’s closest friends Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said: “he has served his country in many capacities,” said, but above all, he is a wonderful teacher, about whom we all learned a great deal and will learn. The great philosopher, a great educator and a great humanist, who is our President, is India ‘s unique privilege. It’s the sort of men that we admire and honour.
Some Facts about Dr. Radhakrishnan’s
Dr Radhakrishnan was the first Indian to hold a Chair in Eastern Religion and Ethics at the University of Oxford (1936-1952).
Dr. Radhakrishnan was Chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board in 1948, led by the Indian Delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. He also served in the Indian delegation.
In 1954, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan received the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour.
He has taught from the University of Mysore to the University of Calcutta at various colleges.
Swikriti Dandotia
