Teacher's Day 2022: Date, History, Significance, Tribute

Teacher's Day is celebrated every year on the 5th of September!

To tribute to the birth anniversary of scholar and Bharat Ratna recipient Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was born in 1888, Teacher's Day is celebrated every year on 5th September. 

Teachers are the foundation of anyone’s life. They are the stepping-stones that mould and nourish one’s raw talent and potential. It is to honour such remarkable forces in our lives that Teacher’s Day is celebrated.

Dedicated to teachers and the role they play in shaping their students’ lives, September 5 is annually celebrated as Teachers’ Day. 

Taking notes from the President will confer the National Award to Teachers. The purpose of the National Awards to Teachers is to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and to honour those teachers who through their commitment and industry have not only improved the quality of school education but also enriched the lives of their students.

Teachers' Day plays a very important role in the life of every student as this is the day when they give tribute to their teachers, mentors and guides in life.

All Educational institutions including schools and colleges, celebrate this day with utmost zest and various extracurricular activities are held. Poems, skits, speeches and other creative programmes are organised in schools and colleges to thank the teachers.

Taking notes from history, a respected academic, Radhakrishnan who was also the first vice president and second president of independent India — was born into a Telugu family. 

Mr Radhakrishan had a long academic career and taught at Chennai’s Presidency College and Calcutta University, and even served as the vice chancellor of Andhra Pradesh University (from 1931-1936). He also taught Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford from 1936, a position he held for 16 years.

Dr Radhakrishnan believed “teachers should be the best minds in the country.” It is said that when Dr Radhakrishnan became the president, his students and friends urged him to celebrate his birthday. Known for his humble and modest nature, he implored, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers’ Day.” Since then, from 1962, his birthday has been observed as Teacher’s Day in the country.

India traditionally has another similar day to honour teachers, called the Guru Purnima, which usually falls in July and is based on the lunar calendar.