Why September 5 is celebrated as Teachers' Day in India?

The custom of celebrating Teacher’s Day on Dr Radhakrishna started back 60s when some students visited Dr Radhakrishna one day in 1962 to wish him a happy birthday.

Teacher’s Day is celebrated on September 5 since 1962, ever wondered why? India observes Teachers' Day on September 5 every year to commemorate the anniversary of Dr Sarvopalli Radhakrisnan's birth. Radhakrishnan served as India's first vice president and second president after independence (from 1962-67). Born on September 5, 1888, Dr Radhakrishna was a researcher, thinker, educator, and recipient of the Bharat Ratna award.

September 5, Dr Radhakrishna’s birthday

The custom of celebrating Teacher’s Day on Dr Radhakrishna started back 60s when some students visited Dr Radhakrishna one day in 1962 to wish him a happy birthday. Dr urged them to recognise this day (September 5) to honour and remember all the outstanding teachers from Bangladesh and India.

Then, Dr Radhakrishnan went on to work as a philosophy professor at Calcutta University and Chennai's Presidency College. His students largely loved him, and believed he was a fantastic teacher.

VC of BHU and Andhra University

Later, both Banaras Hindu University and Andhra University (BHU) appointed Dr Radhakrishna as Vice-Chancellor. He was chosen as a fellow of the British Academy in 1939. In 1926, 1929, and 1930, he also worked as a lecturer at Manchester College in Oxford. He was named the University of Chicago's Haskell lecturer in Comparative Religion in 1930.

Among various published works, the Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore and The Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy are two of Dr Radhakrishn's most well-known writings. Nominated 11 times for Nobel Peace Prize, in 1963, Dr Radhakrisnan was honored with the British Order of Merit.

Read More:

• Class 12 Delhi student from NCR school can't avail college reservation benefits: HC