Teachers Day 2023- Contribution & Importance of Dr Radhakrishnan

Every year Teachers day is observed on 5th September. This day is observed  on the occasion of the birth day of the first Vice-President and second President of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Dr Radhakrishnan also known as Philosopher President was born on 5th September 1888 in Thiruthani, Tamil Nadu. 

Background to the Teachers Day 

The first teacher day was observed in 1962.  It is said that when Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan assumed office as the second President of India in 1962, his students approached him to seek  his permission to celebrate September 5 as a special day. Dr. Radhakrishnan instead, requested them to observe September 5 as Teachers’ Day to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of teachers to society.Since then September 5 is observed as Teachers day in India .

Contribution of Dr Radhakrishnan

Dr Radhakrishnan was a statesman, philosopher and educator .  He  was a multifaceted personality who had an illustrious career as an educator, statesman and politician. 

Dr Radhakrishnan teaching career

During his teaching career he occupied a number of prestigious posts . Some of them were ;

• In 1921, Radhakrishnan took up the prestigious George V Chair in Philosophy at Calcutta University.
• In 1931 he was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University .
• He also served as the Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University .
• In 1936 the Oxford University appointed him to the H.N. Spalding Chair of Eastern Religions and Ethics.

Head of  University Education Commission

Dr Radhakrishnan was the head of the  University Education Commission set up by the government of India in 1948. The Commission’s 1949 Report assessed the state of university education in the country and made a number of recommendations for its improvement.

Books Authored by Dr Radhakrishnan 

Dr Radhakrishan was influenced by Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy . He wrote a number of books and articles on Hindu philosophy and way of life. His famous books are;

• The Hindu View of Life,
• An Idealist View of Life

Political Career 

• He was the member of the Constituent Assembly which framed the constitution of India. 
• He was India’s  Ambassador to the Soviet Union.
• He was elected as the first Vice-President of India in 1952  for a term of five years and was again reelected in 1957..
• He was elected as the second President of India in 1962 for a term of five years.

Awards and Honours

• He was conferred with India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1954 along with C.Rajagopalachari and Dr  C V Raman. The Bharat Ratna was conferred for the first time in 1954.
• in 1975, Dr. Radhakrishnan was awarded the Templeton Prize for his vital contributions in bridging the understanding between cultures and religions of the Eastern and Western hemispheres. 

After completion of his Presidential term Dr.Radhakrishnan retired from public life in 1967. He spent the last years of his life in Mylapore, Madras. Dr. Radhakrishnan died on April 17, 1975.