Why teacher's day is celebrated on September 5

NEW DELHI: Teachers’ Day is a celebration of teachers, mentors and guides. In India, teachers’ day is celebrated on September 5 every year since 1962, as it is the birth anniversary of the second President of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan .


On this day, teachers and students gather in educational institutes to indulge in activities of celebration, thanks and remembrance.

In some schools, senior students take up the role of teachers and teach younger students as a token of appreciation and respect for the teachers.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born to Sarvepalli Veeraswami and Sarvepalli Sita (Sitamma) in a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin Hindu family, in Tiruttani in the erstwhile Madras Presidency.

Radhakrishnan, who served as the first Vice President of India (1952–1962) was one of India's most distinguished twentieth-century scholars of comparative religion and philosophy. He believed that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”.

Throughout his academic and political life, he received several awards during his life, including a knighthood in 1931, the Bharat Ratna in 1954, and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. He was also one of the founders of Helpage India, a non-profit organisation for elderly underprivileged in India.

When he became the President of India, some of his students requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday, on 5 September. In a response, he said, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5th is observed as Teachers' Day. Since then, his birthday is celebrated as Teachers' Day in India.