Why we celebrate Teachers’ Day on September 5? History, significance and more

Teachers’ Day 2023 (September 5): Why is National Teachers' Day celebrated on September 5, and how do schools and government honour teachers? Read on to find out.

Teachers’ Day History: Significance of the day

Teachers’ Day in India: It is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. (Express photo)

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Teachers’ Day History and Importance: Every year, India celebrates the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (September 5) as National Teachers’ Day as a tribute to his contributions and achievements.

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Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born in Tiruttani of North Arcot district in the erstwhile Madras Presidency (Image source: Express archive)

Radhakrishnan completed his entire education through scholarships. He possessed a master’s degree in Philosophy and authored the book ‘The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore’ in 1917. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936 and the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1939, succeeding Madan Mohan Malviya.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan served as the first vice president of India from 1952 to 1962. (Image source: Express archive)

He went on to teach at Chennai’s Presidency College and Calcutta University. In 1954, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna — the highest civilian award in India. He was admitted as an honorary member of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963.

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‘Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5th is observed as Teachers’ Day,’ Radhakrishnan said. (Image source: Express photo)

Why Is Teachers’ Day Celebrated On September 5 In India?

It is believed that while he was serving as the second President of India in 1962, his students approached him to seek permission to celebrate his birthday – September 5 – as a special day. To this, Dr Radhakrishnan instead made a request to observe September 5 as Teachers’ Day, to recognise the contribution of teachers to society.

Teachers’ Day is now celebrated to highlight the importance of teachers in our lives and recognise their contribution to the society.

Students celebrate and thank teachers for their continuous efforts. (Image source: Express photo)

To celebrate Teachers’ Day, most schools organise cultural functions in which students thank the teachers for their work in the form of songs, dances, plays/ skits, poems and more. A lot of senior students also dress up as teachers and handle classes during the day.

The President of India, every year, confers ‘National Awards to Teachers’ on September 5. (Image source: File)

On Teachers’ Day, the government also confers awards to some selected teachers in the form of ‘ National Awards to Teachers’. Last year, President Droupadi Murmu conferred awards to Yudhveer, Virender Kumar and Amit Kumar (Himachal Pradesh); Harpreet Singh, Arun Kumar Garg and Vandana Shahi (Punjab); Shashikant Sambhajirao Kulthe, Somnath Waman Walke and Kavita Sanghvi (Maharashtra); Kandala Ramaiah, TN Sridhar and Sunitha Rao (Telangana).

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The Ministry of Education has been organising a function at Vigyan Bhawan on Teachers Day on September 5 every year to confer the awards to the best teachers of the country, selected through a rigorous transparent and online three-stage selection process.