India celebrates National Teachers' Day every year on September 5th, marking the birth anniversary of the country's second President, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. This day is an opportunity to honour his unique contributions and great achievements in the field of education.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, in a poor Telugu family. He received his education through scholarships and earned a Master's degree in Philosophy. His first book, 'The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore', was published in 1917, reflecting his intellectual prowess and depth of thought.

Dr Radhakrishnan's achievements

Dr Radhakrishnan also played a significant role as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University (1931-1936) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) (1939). Under his leadership, these universities achieved several milestones in the field of education.

The second President of independent India

Throughout his life, Dr Radhakrishnan was not only a great scholar and philosopher but also an inspiring teacher. In 1962, when he was serving as the second President of India, his students expressed their desire to celebrate his birthday as a special day. However, Dr Radhakrishnan suggested celebrating it as Teachers' Day to honour the invaluable contribution of teachers in society.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, acknowledging the greatness of Dr. Radhakrishnan, said that he had served his country in many ways, but above all, he is a great teacher from whom we have learned a lot. This statement clearly reflects his dedication to teaching and his impact on society.

Importance of education

Dr Radhakrishnan always gave priority to the importance of education and considered himself a teacher first. Celebrating September 5th as Teachers' Day in his memory is not only to honour his achievements but also to acknowledge the important role of teachers in our lives. Thus, National Teachers' Day is an important occasion to recognize the greatness of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and the contribution of teachers. Let us all express our gratitude to our teachers on this day and salute their contribution.