India celebrates Teachers’ Day on September 5 every year. This national holiday honors the important work that teachers do for society. This date marks the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a famous philosopher, scholar, and statesman who was India’s first vice president and second president.
Dr. Radhakrishnan, a highly respected scholar, believed strongly in the potential of education to change lives and the important role that teachers play. In 1962, people started celebrating Teachers’ Day on his birthday. When his students approached him to celebrate his birthday, he respectfully recommended that the day be dedicated to celebrating all teachers around the country instead. This selfless effort showed how much he cared about teachers.
Dr. Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, in Tiruttani, Tamil Nadu. He had a very successful career in philosophy. He taught at well-known schools like the University of Mysore and the University of Calcutta. He was also the vice-chancellor of various universities, such as Andhra University, Banaras Hindu University, and Delhi University. He had an impact around the world when he became the first Indian to be the Spalding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at the University of Oxford from 1936 to 1952.
Dr. Radhakrishnan’s long and successful career in public service began in 1948 when he was chosen to be the Chairman of UNESCO’s Executive Board. In 1952, he became India’s first vice president, and in 1962, he became its second president. In 1954, he was given the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, for all the good work he had done.
Dr. Radhakrishnan was nominated for the Nobel Prize an amazing 27 times: 16 times for Literature and 11 times for Peace. His intellectual writings, such as Indian Philosophy and An Idealist View of Life, helped bring together ideas from the East and the West.