Updated October 11, 2022
Teachers’ Day in India is celebrated on September 5th every year from 1962 onwards. We celebrate this day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was a well-known scholar, Philosopher, First Vice-President, and second President of independent India.
Also, he was the one who received the highest civilian award in India, the Bharat Ratna. He also was a believer in teachers being the best minds in the country. As an educator, he promoted enlightenment and was a renowned diplomat, academician, and most importantly, a great teacher.
Students across India, honour and pay tribute to their teachers by sending gifts, greetings, messages, quotes, etc. Although Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5th globally, but every country has its own date to celebrate the Day.
History of Teachers’ day in India
In 1992, Dr. Radhakrishnan became the President of Independent India. Some of his friends and students approached him to seek permission to celebrate his birthday on September 5th. Dr. Radhakrishnan replied, “Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my pompous privilege if 5th September is examined as Teachers’ Day”.
Such a request coming from the President of India clearly demonstrated Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s affection and dedication toward teachers. Since then, India has observed Teachers’ Day on September 5th. It started celebrating across schools, colleges, universities, and educational institutions in India. On this great occasion, students hold a variety of events to entertain their most loved teachers.
They do several activities, including singing and dancing competitions, poetry recitals, comedy skits of teachers, picnic planning, playing games, gift-giving, and, finally, expressing gratitude to teachers. Teachers Day is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the bond between educators and students.
Significance of Teachers’ Day in India
Teachers motivate us to succeed in life by providing us with a purpose and preparing us to be productive members of society. Teachers’ Day in India, also known as Shikshak Divas, is a national holiday to honour the dedication of our mentors and gurus.
According to a proverb, a nation’s youngsters hold the key to its future. And teachers, in their role as mentors, can shape their students into future leaders. They are crucial in our life because they aid in our professional and financial success.
They assist us in developing into better people, better members of society, and better representatives of our nation. The purpose of Teachers’ Day is to recognize the hardships, difficulties, and vital role that teachers play in our lives.
So, make an effort to speak with your teachers that day and express your wishes. Send them a note if they are far away to brighten their day. It is rightly said that Teaching is not a service, profession, or job. It is a pillar of society.
Unforgettable Indian Teachers, And Their Legacy: Teacher’s Day
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a Politician, Scholar, and Philosopher. He served as the Vice President of India from 1952 to 1962, and second President of India from 1962 to 1967.
Sir C.V Raman: He was an Indian physicist who won the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work in the area of light scattering.
P.K Srinivasan: He was a math teacher at Chennai’s Muthialpet High School in India. For a short time, he served as a Fullbright exchange teacher in the US. He worked as a lecturer for the Indian NCERT.
C.N.R Rao: He presently leads the scientific advisory council for the Indian Prime Minister. Rao started teaching at IISc in 1959. From 1963 to 1976, he served as the department head for chemistry at IIT Kanpur.
K. Vijay Raghvan: He is a Distinguished Professor and former Director of The National Centre for Biological Sciences. Since January 28, 2013, he has served as the Department of Biotechnology of India’s Secretary, succeeding Maharaj Kishan Bhan.
Roddam Narasimha: At the Indian Institute of Science, he taught aeronautical engineering (IISc).
C.R Rao: As the Director of the Indian Statistical Institute, Jawaharlal Nehru Professor and National Professor in India, University Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Eberly Professor and Chair of Statistics, and Director of the Center for Multivariate Analysis at Pennsylvania State University, he held a number of significant positions.
Teachers are the true representatives of knowledge and wisdom, and they nurture and prepare students for the future. They educate both the general public and students. They provide light to a world that has become dimmed by ignorance. The real cornerstones of our success are our teachers.
They assist us in learning new things, enhancing our abilities, gaining confidence, and determining the best course for success. But despite having such a significant impact on students’ lives and the development of the country, they rarely receive the recognition they deserve.
Thus, it is our responsibility as a student to express our gratitude to them at least once a year. And today is the best day to do so. Of course, respecting or dedicating some time to them once a year is not enough. Since they work every day for our betterment, so why not we too. Let’s do something today for our teachers’ that makes them smile.
Quotes on Teachers’ Day
- “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats
- “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” – Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
- “The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.” – Anatole France
- “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai
- “The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-trust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciples.” –Amos Bronson Alcott
- “They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even when you don’t know it.” – Nicholas Sparks
- “Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers.” – Josef Albers
- “Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the Earth.” —Helen Caldicott, Physician and Author
- “There’s no word in the language I revere more than teacher. My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I’ve honored myself and the entire family of man by becoming a teacher.” —Pat Conroy, Author
- “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” – Khalil Gibran
- “The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” – Mark Van Doren
- “Wherever you find something extraordinary, you’ll find the fingerprints of a great teacher.” –Arne Duncan
- “Teach love, generosity, good manners and some of that will drift from the classroom to the home and who knows, the children will be educating the parents.” –Roger Moore
Teachers’ day Wishes
- “Thank you for all the life lessons. Happy Teacher’s Day.” ― Unknown
- “Music has made me rise and shine as a singer, mainly because you taught me the right notes. Happy Teacher’s Day to my Music Teacher.” ― Unknown
- “You gave the sense of color and I color the lives of others through my paintings. Happy Teacher’s Day to my Art Teacher.” ― Unknown
- “You taught us like a teacher, protected us like our parents, and guided us like a mentor. You truly deserve this day so much. Happy teachers’ day to my most beloved teacher!”― Unknown
- “To the one who always corrects you when you’re wrong. Happy Teacher’s Day.” ― Unknown
- “Today I am building houses because of the elements of force that you literally forced me to study! Happy Teacher’s Day to my Physics Teacher.” ― Unknown
- “The stars I got in class helped me through hard times. Happy Teacher’s Day.” ― Unknown
- “All the efforts and hard work you’ve invested to bring out the best in us can never be repaid in mere words. We can only feel grateful for having a teacher like you! Happy Teacher’s Day.” ― Unknown
Most Frequently Asked Questions on Teachers’ Day in India
Ans: To commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President, teachers’ day in India is celebrated.
Ans: The first Teachers’ Day in India was celebrated in 1992.
Ans: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on Teachers’ Day.