5th September is the birth anniversary of a great teacher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Why Teacher’s day is celebrated on 5th September?

“Teachers should be the best minds in the country”  believed Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

Teachers Hold a Special Place in our Lives as they help us discover ourselves. Teachers’ Day is celebrated to express our gratitude and appreciate the hard work of our Teachers. All over the World International Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5th October, While India celebrates it on the 5th of September as a mark of tribute to Dr.Radhakrishnan’s close association with the cause of teachers.

As Teachers’ Day is around the corner! Here is all you need to know about the most magnificent philosopher and the second president of India Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, in a middle-class family of Thiruttani town. He was the most famous Indian philosopher, first Vice President of India (1952-1962) and the second President of India (1962-1967)

Educational Qualification of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan:

Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s father did not want his son to learn English.Instead, he wanted him to become a priest. However, his talent was so outstanding that he was sent to school at Thirupati and then Vellore. After completing his schooling, he joined the Christian College, Madras, and studied philosophy. During his MA degree, he prepared a thesis on the topic “The Ethics of the Vedanta and Its Material Presupposition” which was published in 1908 as his first book.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan as Evocative Teacher: 

In his early days as a professor at Presidency College, Madras he was an exceptional teacher.  His students loved and respected him so much that when he was appointed as a professor in the University of Calcutta and was leaving Mysore University, he was escorted in a flower decked carriage pulled by his students. He also served as Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936. In 1939, he was appointed the Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University.Two years later, he took over the Sir Sayaji Rao Chair of Indian Culture and Civilization in Banaras. His mastery on his subject was so great that he was invited to fill the Chair of Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford in 1936, he retained the post for 16 years. But what made him even more popular was his warm-heartedness and his ability to draw out people.

Leading the Nation:

It was the glory of Indian democracy that an educationist aloof from politics but with an international acclaim as a profound scholar was placed in the positions of the President and vice president.

In 1952, Dr. Radhakrishnan was chosen to be the first Vice President of the Republic of India, he presided over the sittings of Rajya Sabha. In case of fierce arguments among the members, he used to start reciting slokas from Sanskrit classics or Bible to pacify the situation. On this Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru commented that “By the way in which Radhakrishnan conducted the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, he had made the meetings of the House look like family gatherings”

In 1962, he became the second President of India. Even as the President Sarvepalli remained a humble man. It was an open house at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and people from all sections of society were welcome to meet him. In addition, he accepted only Rs. 2,500 out of his salary of Rs. 10,000 and donated the remaining amount to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund every month.

He had great faith in Indian democracy. On 12th May 1967, during his farewell speech, he said that “a way of life and a regime of the civilized conduct of human affairs. We should be the architects of peaceful changes and the advocates of radical reform”

Achievements of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan:

Throughout his lifetime he received various awards for his meritorious service and comprehensive knowledge. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 1931 but he declined to use ‘sir’ title and embraced his academic title ‘Doctor’. In 1938 he was elected as the Fellow of British Academy. He also won the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 1961. Bharat Ratna, the highest award of the nation, was conferred on him in 1954 in recognition of his meritorious service to mankind.

Why teachers’ day is celebrated on 5TH September:

In India teachers’ day is celebrated on 5TH September as a tribute to Dr.Radhakrishnan’s close association with the cause of teachers.5th September is the birth anniversary of a great teacher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was highly devoted towards education and well known as the scholar, diplomat, Vice President, philosopher, President of India and most importantly a Teacher.

It was in 1962 when Dr. Radhakrishnan became the President of India. Some of his students approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday. In reply, Dr, Radhakrishnan said, “Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5th is observed as Teachers’ day”. The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan’s love for the teaching profession. From then onwards, his birthday is observed as Teachers’  Day in India.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was one of his closest friends throughout, said about Dr.Radhakrishnan: “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 honor and respect.”Whatever position he held whether as President or Vice President or even as Ambassador, Dr.Radhakrishnan essentially remained a teacher all his life. The teaching profession was his first love and those who studied under him still remember with gratitude his great qualities as a teacher.

Whatever position he held whether as President or Vice President or even as Ambassador, Dr.Radhakrishnan essentially remained a teacher all his life. The teaching profession was his first love and those who studied under him still remember with gratitude his great qualities as a teacher.