October 5 is marked as the World Teachers’ Day every year, but in India, the celebration occurs a month prior on September 5. It is the time to honour and show gratitude to all the teaching professionals across the nation who have taught us valuable life lessons and helped us in shaping our lives. This day serves as a special opportunity to honour the hard work and dedication they put in to be the mentors, role models and inspirations for their students. As the day approaches, let’s look at the reason why Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5 in India and the history behind it.
Every year, India celebrates Teachers’ Day on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and pay tribute to his immense contributions and achievements to education and philosophy. Born on September 5, 1888, the Bharat Ratna recipient was a distinguished scholar, philosopher and the second President of India.
Hailing from a Telugu Brahmin family, Dr Radhakrishnan has done his entire education through scholarships. He secured a Master’s degree in philosophy and published the book ‘The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore’ in 1917. He was a teacher and a scholar whose work revolved around comparative religion and philosophy. He taught philosophy at various universities, including the Madras Presidency College, the University of Calcutta, the University of Mysore, the University of Chicago and also, the University of Oxford.
He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1939, following Madan Mohan Malviya. From 1953 to 1962, he was the chancellor of the University of Delhi. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s written works include The Philosophy of the Upanishads (1924), An Idealist View of Life (1932), Eastern Religions and Western Thought (1939), and East and West: Some Reflections (1955).
In 1962, Radhakrishnan was appointed as the second President of India, and he assumed office on May 13 of that year. To celebrate this momentous occasion, his friends and students decided to celebrate his birthday. When they approached to seek his permission regarding the same, Radhakrishnan told them, “Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers’ Day,” as noted in the Festivals of India webpage for Radhakrishnan.
Hence, to recognise teachers like Radhakrishnan, who are builders of the nation’s future as they ensure their students are armed with proper knowledge and wisdom, the Teachers’ Day is celebrated. The day helps highlight their role, their plight and their rights in society.
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