Teacher day in India

Edited by: Vikas Mavi

गुरु गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागू पाय|
बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोविन्द दियो बताय| – संत कबीरदास 

5 September, 2022 (New Delhi): The first Vice President of India (1952–1962), Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, was born on this day, which is why 5 September was called as Shikshak Divas. He was a scholar, philosopher, Bharat Ratna awardee, a well-respected teacher, and a prolific statesman who once said, “Teachers should be the best minds in the country.”

History and significance of the day

In 1962, when Dr. Radhakrishan became India’s second president, his students came to him to ask for permission to observe September 5 as a special day. Instead, Dr. Radhakrishnan asked them to observe September 5 as Teachers’ Day to recognize teachers’ value in society.
Since that time, all academic institutions—including schools, colleges, and universities—celebrate September 5 as Teacher’s Day. Students put on performances, dance, and plan extravagant events for their favourite professors. 

Culture and celebrations

With normalcy of Covid-19 restrictions and returning students to campus, it is that time of year when cultural programs and events are organized in schools and colleges. Students bring flowers, sweets, and cards to express their gratitude and love to their teachers, while senior students dress up in formals and take/supervise classes so that teachers can relax and enjoy the festivities.

Importance of teachers and mentors in life

Teachers are the foundation of any quality education, and they are perhaps the few people in our lives who instilled in us a desire to do well and succeed in life, as well as to recognise the hard work of your mentors and gurus.