5 September: Teacher’s Day
Teacher’s Day was celebrated on 5 September 2017 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
To mark the occasion, schools and colleges throughout India organised various programmes to honour of teachers who shaped the lives of students.
Also, the Union Environment Ministry launched an environment awareness initiative, Prakriti Khoj, on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.
Teacher's day was created in 1962 to mark the birth anniversary of the second president of India Dr S Radhakrishnan, who was also an academician and teacher.
About Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
• Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was an Indian philosopher and statesman.
• He was the first Vice President of India (1952–1962) and the second President of India from 1962 to 1967.
• He was one of India's most distinguished twentieth-century scholars of comparative religion and philosophy.
• His academic appointments included professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore, the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta and Spalding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at University of Oxford.
• His philosophy was grounded in Advaita Vedanta, reinterpreting this tradition for a contemporary understanding.
• He was awarded several high awards during his life, including a knighthood in 1931, the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 1954, and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963.
• He believed that "teachers should be the best minds in the country".
The World Teachers’ Day
It is important to note that every country has its own Teacher’s day, which is celebrated on different dates. However, there is also the World Teachers’ day that was created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Every year, 5 October is celebrated as the World Teachers’ Day. A different theme is selected for every year to celebrate and honour the teachers of the world.