It’s Teachers’ Day in India today. Each year, 5 September is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India in the honor of our teachers. Students pay their respects to their teachers and often present them with gifts. Special programmes are organised in schools on the occasion.
Other countries celebrates Teachers’ Day on different dates, while International Teachers’ Day or World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5 October every year.
Why is 5 September Celebrated as Teachers’ Day?
5 September is the birth anniversary of former President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. While he is known for being the first Vice-President of India and the second President of India, he was renowned as a great teacher before that. Each year, Teachers’ Day is celebrated in India in memory of Dr. Radhakrishnan.
An academic and a philosopher, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in the country, in 1954 and was nominated 27 times for the Nobel Prize. He wrote ‘The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore’ and he dedicated 40 years of his life to teaching before entering politics.
The story goes that when his students requested him to allow them to celebrate his birth day, he insisted that instead of celebrating his birthday separately, it would be a privilege if 5 September is observed as Teachers’ Day. Since 1962, India has been celebrating this date as Teachers’ Day.
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