Celebrating Teacher’s Day

Every year on September 5, we celebrate Teacher’s Day to honour the birth anniversary of the first Vice President (1962-1967) and the second President of India (1962-1967), Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Along with being an exceptional leader, Radhakrishnan was also a scholar and philosopher. He authored several books on the philosophy of Hindu religious texts. His books attempted to make the Indian concept of philosophy more accessible to Western countries. 

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, into a Telegu family in Thiruthani, Tamil Nadu. Throughout his academic life, he was awarded many scholarships. At the young age of 16, he enrolled into the Madras Christian College to study philosophy. Radhakrishnan belonged to a poor family, so when a cousin passed on his philosophy books to Radhakrishnan, he decided to take it up as a course. 

Throughout his adult life, Radhakrishnan defended Hindu philosophies against Western criticism and tried to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western philosophies. He was greatly revered among his students. When asked by his students if they could celebrate his birth anniversary on September 5, he responded by saying, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5th is observed as Teachers’ Day”. He was appointed as the President of India during this time. 

Since 1962, every year on September 5, teachers all around the country are celebrated. Schools organize special programmes for teachers on this day. Songs, dances, plays, poems and more are performed by students to show their love and appreciation for their teachers.