Hi Everyone, with Teacher’s Day around the corner, let us talk meaning and significance of this National Celebration.
Meaning and Significance:
Teachers’ Day in India is celebrated on 5th September to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
We celebrate Teachers Day in honour of Dr Radhakrishnan’s birthday, and his belief that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”.
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a distinguished 20th-century scholar, was the first Vice President of India, and the second President. He was awarded a knighthood in 1931, and the Bharat Ratna. His birthday is being celebrated as Teachers’ Day (September 5) in India since 1962. He taught there for about 16 years.
When he became the President of India, some of his students wished to celebrate his birthday. He replied, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if 5 September is observed as Teachers’ Day.”
Some Lesser-Known Facts About Dr S Radha Krishnan
As the Vice-President, Radhakrishnan presided over the Rajya Sabha sessions. Whenever there were infuriated members, he would start quoting slokas from Sanskrit classics or the Bible, to calm the heated audience.
Dr Radhakrishnan illustrated how western philosophers were prejudiced. He even claimed that Indian philosophy merits the term ‘philosophy’ in the western world. He is the one who placed Indian Philosophy on the world map.
His View on Teachers and Education
A teacher must create an environment that nurtures the student with his warm, kind-hearted, accessible, enthusiastic and caring approach. He must convey sense of leadership by providing opportunities for each student to assume leadership roles. The mutual respect between teacher and student will provide supportive and collaborative environment in the classroom. Valuing students’ ideas and opinions will encourage students to feel safe to express their feelings and learn to respect and listen to others.
The world of scientific facts and the world of values are different. If education does not build wisdom and humanity in the hearts and minds of men, all its professional, scientific and technological triumphs would be meaningless. Education is enlightenment of soul that dispels ignorance and illuminates the individual.
So, I hope we can inculcate the same values onto our current education system and learnings. Please remember to thank your teachers for their relentless work and efforts.
Wish you all a Happy Teachers Day!
