Teacher's Day Celebration 5th September 2022
Teachers are the backbone of an educated society. In Indian culture, teachers are positioned next to God. It’s the teachers who shape the future of a country.On 5th September every year Teachers’ Day is celebrated to show gratitude for the efforts and service of teachers. It is the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was India’s first Vice President and the Second President of India.
It was in 1962 that some prominent students of Dr. Radhakrishnan gathered together to pay respect to him. At the gathering, Dr. Radhakrishnan expressed his reservation about the celebration. He asked them to observe his birth anniversary as Teachers’ Day, rather than a birthday. He was born in a middle-class family in the pilgrim town of Tiruttani. His father wanted him to become a priest but his dedication to learning was such that he was sent to school at Tirupati and then Vellore. He earned various scholarships throughout his academic career. It was at the age of 20 that his first thesis was published.
The celebration which started on 5th September 1962, has remained a national event of joy for students and educators alike. The process of learning is a way to enlightenment. This day is apt to show due respect to anyone who has left an imprint which is worthy of recognition. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru who was one of the close friends of Dr. Radhakrishnan once mentioned that “He has served his country in many capacities. But above all, he is a great teacher from whom all of us have learnt much and will continue to learn. It is India’s peculiar privilege to have a great philosopher, a great educationist and a great humanist as her President. That in itself shows the kind of men we honour and respect.”
Dr. Radhakrishnan has been considered a great philosopher and one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. He was appointed as a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore in 1918. He wrote several articles for prestigious journals. 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. His writings and teachings have inspired generations to not give up and keep going with their efforts.
