Dr. Banarsi Lal
Every year 5th of September is celebrated as the teachers’ day in India to honour and appreciate the contribution of teachers in developing the nation. On this day we express the gratitude and respect to our beloved teachers who selflessly work to build the future of millions of students. This day is a very special occasion especially for the students and teachers and is celebrated with a great joy and enthusiasm in the schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions across the country. The reason behind the celebration of teacher’s day on 5th of September is the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the ex-President of India. The birth anniversary day of our earlier President has been dedicated to highlight the nobility of the teaching profession as well as contributions of our teachers in the society and country development. Dr. Radhakrishnan was a great personality who was highly devoted towards the education and is well known as the scholar, diplomat, Vice -President of India, President of India and most importantly the great teacher. Dr . Radhakrishnan was a great believer of education and was a renowned scholar. After his selection as the President of India in 1962, he was requested by the students to get permission to celebrate his birthday on 5th of September. He replied that, instead of celebrating 5th of September as his personal birthday, it would be better if it is dedicated to the whole teaching profession and 5th of September should be celebrated as teachers day across the nation to pay reverence to the teaching profession. After his statement, 5th of September is celebrated as the Teachers Day in India. He was highly devoted towards education and most importantly was a great teacher who spent around 40 years of his life in teaching in the teaching profession. He started his career as the Philosophy teacher at the age of 21 in Presidency College, Chennai in 1909.He taught Philosophy in many famous universities in India and abroad like Kolkata, Chennai, Banaras, Oxford in London etc. He was committed towards the teaching profession and was also appointed as the Chairman of University Grants Commission in 1949. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the Vice- President from 1952-1962 and President of India from 1962-1967. He was the first ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1949-1952. Indian Teacher’s Day is dedicated to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was a genius advocate of education and one of the greatest scholars and teachers of all times, apart from being the first Vice-President and the second President of India. As a mark of respect to this phenomenal teacher, his birthday is observed as the Teacher’s Day across the national. He was a great educationist, philosopher and statesman. He interpreted India’s philosophical and religious traditions to west. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born in Tiruttani, then in Andhra Pradesh and now in Tamil Nadu on 5th of September, 1888 in the poor Brahmin family. After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 he was very instrumental in the Indian politics immediately. He was serving as a teacher before plunging in to politics and that is why the Teachers’ Day is celebrated on his birthday. Teachers’ Day is like an occasion and opportunity for the students in India to pay tribute and gratitude to their beloved teachers for their continuous, selfless and precious efforts in shaping the future of our society. Teachers are helpful to enrich the students with the knowledge with quality education among their students and continue this process without getting tired. Teachers are very important in our life. Our country teachers never consider us less than their own children and teach us with full zeal and enthusiasm. We get inspiration and motivation from our teachers. With education they tell us how to keep knowledgeable, cool, calm and patience. They encourgage us to make strenuous efforts to achieve our dreams and bring optimism in our life. A good teacher is like a candle who consumes itself to light the others. The true teacher always defends his students and inspires them for good deeds. On this day Best teachers’ awards are given to the outstanding teachers. On this day, students present gifts and momentos to the teachers. Different functions are organized in the schools, colleges and universities on this special day and students present dance performances, dramas and various other activities to entertain their teachers. Students and teachers have a healthy interaction on this day. On this particular day, tribute is given to the teachers for their hard work and devotion throughout the year to educate the children. On this day, students wish their favourite teachers by giving them gifts, greeting cards, sweets, pen, diaries etc. Students also wish their favourite teachers by sending them audio messages, emails, video messages, written messages through face book, twitter etc. Some just wish orally to their teachers. Teachers play the significant role for the quality education and shaping the student’s life. Teachers give us the future vision, knowledge, skills and experience. Teaching profession is a profession of great responsibility than many other jobs. Teaching has a great significance on the growth, development and well being of the students and society. Teachers are the only source of knowledge and skill in our society and they help us to develop confidence in ourselves. We also have responsibilities towards our loyal teachers and we all need to be obedient to them. We all need to thank them for their selfless service to shape our lives. This day gives us an opportunity to spend a day for them. Teachers are said to be the future building blocks of the country as they shape the life of the students who are the future of the nation. Our teachers teach us not only our subject but also improve our personality by improving our traits, knowledge and skill. They encourage us to tackle the difficulties of life. Teachers are said to be the back bone of our society because they have immense contribution in building up our characters, shaping our future and help us to be ideal citizens of the country. Teachers are the pillars of any nation. They shape the destiny and future of their students. Teaching is the noblest profession in the world. Teachers have their precious contributions in our study as well as towards the society and the nation. Teachers are really the holders of knowledge through which they enlighten our lives. Our success is directly associated with our teachers. Our teachers keep their profession on priority and teach us even by facing different constraints in their lives. We hardly thank them for their priceless job. On Teachers Day we should recognize their hard work and say thank to them. Teachers always promote us to do every impossible thing possible with the devotion. Every year we should realize the necessity and value of our teachers and pay homage for their hard work. We should be grateful to our teachers. Teachers mould our mind towards the success. We should pledge to respect our teachers in our daily lives as without good teachers we all are incomplete.
(The writer is Sr. Scientist and Head of KVK Reasi SKUAST-J).