Why September 5 Is the Date We Celebrate Teacher’s Day

I can still remember how Teacher's Day used to be in school. The morning was always so full of another kind of thrill. We'd rush to school with chart papers of different colors tucked under our arm, flowers secretly hidden away in bags, and some nervousness about how the day would go. The blackboard that was used to carry equations or grammar rules would, for the first time in its existence, bear in bold, shaky letters "Happy Teacher's Day". There were skits, dances, and unrelenting laughter. But behind all the fun, there lay a silent appreciation for the people who stood by us every day, patiently shaping who we were becoming. And yet, the question always nagged: why September 5? Why did the whole country decide to celebrate teachers on precisely this day?



The secret is the life of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, born on September 5, 1888. He was raised in Tamil Nadu in modest conditions but philosophical genius took him to some of India's and the world's leading universities. He was not just a philosopher-teaching man he was a teacher of life, a man who believed that learning is not memorization but learning how to think. He was beloved by his students. He had this rare quality of giving you the sense that you were being seen, even when you were in a crowd. When he went on to become the second President of India, his students wanted to celebrate his birthday. But rather than making it personal, he made it larger than that. He issued a decree: "Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would give me immense satisfaction if September 5 is celebrated as Teacher's Day." That one desire made a family celebration a national tradition.



In India, the status of a teacher is revered. Our culture has never discriminated against teachers like parents. The word guru signifies "the one who dispels darkness." And if you really do sit down and think about it, that's what teachers do. They're not just people who inform us about algebra or history they're the ones that have faith in us prior to learning to possess faith in ourselves. They're the ones that hang around after class when they notice us having problems. They're the ones whose strictness we typically begrudged but later recognized as being their way of pushing us to be our absolute best. That is why Teacher's Day rolls so easily off our tongues it is not merely a ritual, but an expression of the extent to which our teachers affect our lives.

We all share a Teacher's Day memory that stays with us forever. Maybe it was awkwardly offering a bouquet of flowers to your favorite teacher in hopes they would smile back at you. Maybe it was the thrill of standing in for your teacher for a day and learning just how hard it is to keep a quiet classroom. Or maybe it was pure joy in watching your hardest teacher laugh at a silly skit.
And now, with the internet, YouTube, and AI answering everything, people wonder if teachers are as relevant anymore. But the truth is they are more relevant than ever. A search engine may give you answers, but it cannot look at you as you are about to quit and say, "I know you can do this." A video may inform you of a formula, but it cannot observe the fear in your eyes when you are certain that you are "not good enough." Only a teacher can. That is why September 5 is so meaningful. It is not history it is recalling that regardless of what the world ends up like, the human factor in learning cannot be duplicated.



Schools across India continue to come alive even today. Rehearsals of dance and play take place weeks beforehand. The senior students teach the juniors and realize all of a sudden how difficult it is to be a teacher. Teachers relax and smile while their students struggle through lessons that are so simple for them to teach on a daily basis. Some send flowers, some send candy, but too often the most effective gifts are the simplest ones a homemade note, a quiet thank you to hearten teachers. Because to them, it's not gifts that matter. It's knowing they made a difference.

Most countries celebrate Teacher's Day on different days America in May, China in September, UNESCO on October 5. But the one unique thing that makes ours special is that it's personal. It's associated with Dr. Radhakrishnan's wish. It's derived from humility, from a person who could have made the day all about himself but had the largeness of spirit to make it about every teacher in India.

We all carry with us the voice of at least one teacher. Maybe it was the teacher who made you love books, or the teacher who encouraged you to pursue science, or even the one who merely said, "I believe in you." You look back and realize how their words altered your path.

Teachers today have even more to do. With children coping with the pressure of social media, competition, and doubts about the future, teachers today are often mentors, counselors, and inspirers all rolled into one. They're not merely imparting subjects they're imparting strength, generosity, and courage.
Which is why they need to be celebrated, not only as a tradition, but a necessity.



So why do we celebrate Teacher's Day on September 5? Because it is the birthday of a man who was a believer in the changing power of teachers, Dr. Radhakrishnan. And also because it is a reminder that behind every success of our own lives there had been a teacher some time ago, leading us, often quietly, patiently, without expecting praise. This Sept. 5, don't just send a forward or purchase a bouquet. Recall that one teacher who made a difference. If possible, call them. Write to them. Thank them. And if not, just keep their memory close. Because teachers don't just teach us lessons they give us bits of themselves that last a lifetime.

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1. Why do we celebrate Teacher’s Day on Sept 5?
   Because it’s Dr. Radhakrishnan’s birthday, who dedicated the day to all teachers.
2. Who was Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan?
   India’s second President, a philosopher, and a beloved teacher.
3. Is Teacher’s Day celebrated worldwide?
   Yes, but on different dates India marks it on Sept 5.
4. How is Teacher’s Day celebrated in schools?
   With cultural programs, student-led classes, and heartfelt tributes.