This day came to be because of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan who chose to turn his birthday into a remarkable day where teachers would be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to education and teaching.
All of us have fond memories of celebrating Teachers' day on September 5 at school, when there would be no classes and the teachers would become students.
Not all of us think of the person behind the origin of this day. Former President of India, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, chose to turn his birthday into a remarkable day where teachers would be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to education and teaching.
Here are five things you need to know about this eminent teacher:
1. Dr. Radhakrishnan was the first elected Vice-President of India in 1952. After serving two terms as Vice-President, he was made President of India in 1962. During his term as President, India fought wars with China and Pakistan. He retired in 1967.
2. He was a great philosopher and penned several books on the subject while teaching at the Madras University. He believed education should be given utmost importance. His contribution to the field earned him several awards, including the Bharat Ratna. He even received the Knighthood from the British emperor King George V in 1931 for his excellence in teaching. In 1975, when the generous scholar was felicitated with a 'Templeton Prize' by the well-known 'Templeton Foundation', he chose to donate the entire amount to the Oxford University.
3. This learned philosopher didn't have support from his economically backward family for his education. Since he was from a small village close to the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, his father wanted him to become a priest at a temple than study further. But Radhakrishnan went on to finish his MA in Philosophy and his first book called "Indian Philosophy" published in 1923 was termed a "philosophical classic and a literary masterpiece."
4. Radhakrishnan was often called by universities abroad to deliver lectures on Hindu philosophy and he used this platform to talk about India's need for freedom. With this he also made a mark for Indian Philosophy on the world map.
5. He was also appointed as ambassador to UNESCO in 1946 and went on further to be appointed as ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1949 during which he established a strong relationship with them.
It was with his ideology and perseverance as Chair to the Union Education Commission in 1948 that India's education system was changed for the better.
This constant learner and educator breathed his last on April 17, 1975.
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 "Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan")
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