TEACHERS DAY IN INDIA
By: SHAHID SHAFI SHAH
Teacher’s day is celebrated every year in India on 5th of September, in the commemoration of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, born on 5th September 1888 in Tiruttani, Tamil Nadu. He was India’s 2nd president, 1st vice president, philosopher, politician, renowned scholar and vice chancellor of Banaras Hindu University and had a great contribution in Indian education ergo known as a great teacher. He was honored with many awards Knighthood in 1931, Bharat Ratna in 1954, and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963.
In 1962, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s friends and students requested him that we would like to celebrate your birthday, he said instead of celebrating my birthday it would be an honour and privilege to me if 5th September will be observed as Teachers Day since then teacher’s day is celebrated. The main purpose of observing teacher’s day is to appreciate the work, endeavour and toiling of teachers. Once APJ said I call young generation vision of the country but who creates this vision which we merely subside is the only one that’s our pride our teachers. Besides Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan there are many great teachers of ancient times some of them are Chanakya, Savitribai Phule, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Rabindra Nath Tagore and A.P.J Abdul Kalam.
Chanakya also known as Kautilya or vishnugupta, he was a great teacher in Indian history and royal advisor in King Chandragupta’s court. His two famous books are Nitishastra (also called Chanakya Niti) and Arthashastra. He once said “Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth”.
Savitribai Phule is known as India’s first female teacher. She opened a school in 1848 where she enrolled untouchable girls of society, she confronted many challenges as many opposed her work but she didn’t stop and latter she opened 5 more schools. In order to remember her contribution, University of Pune was renamed as Savitribai Phule Pune University. Her famous quote is “The lack of learning is nothing but gross bestiality. It is through the acquisition of knowledge that (he) loses his lower status and achieves the higher one.”
Madan Mohan Malaviya was an educationist and is remembered because he laid the infrastructure of largest residential university in Asia, The Banaras Hindu University, and remained its chancellor for about two decades. His famous slogan is “Satyamev jayate (Truth always triumphs)”.
Rabindra Nath Tagore also known as Gurudev he is considered as the best teacher in Indian history. He is remembered because he emphasized on teaching physical activities and has a spacious contribution in Indian education like he taught drama, climbing trees, plucking fruits and dancing at the school.
APJ Abdul Kalam our former president eminently known as missile man also had a great contribution in education besides this he taught us many life lessons, once said “Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher that will be the biggest honor for me”
Many professions are practiced but the one which is most prestigious and valuable is teacher. But if we see in contemporary period students have no respect for their teachers. The behavior of students towards teachers is utterly unbearable. There are numerous examples of those students who were good in studies but amid ill mannered behavior with teachers they dwelled in despondent state. Recently many videos were circulated on social media in those videos we perceived impolite behavior of students towards teachers. Students should abstain from things like asking absurd questions, making fun and criticizing. Although Teachers should also gauge the problems of students and should not make fun of them while questioning in numerous cases students ask questions instead of giving answer teachers make fun of students, teachers should abeyance this kind of attribute.
Eventually I would like to say that we had lost the importance of our teachers which we need to regain. We need to respect our teachers because our teachers are our pride without mentor, guide or teacher a student is directionless.
Here are some quotes of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan:
“The end-product of education should be a free creative man, who can battle against historical and circumstances adversities of nature”
“A life of joy and happiness is possible only on the basis of knowledge and science”
SHAHID SHAFI SHAH is Bsc 4th Semester student at Govt. Degree College Sogam (Lolab), Kupwara and can be reached at [email protected]
