Birth Anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Teachers' Day

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Key takeaways

India celebrates Teachers' Day every year on 5th September since 1962 to honor the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
He chaired the University Education Commission (1948-49), which laid the foundation for modern higher education and the establishment of the UGC.
He served as India's Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1949-1952), the first Vice President (1952-1962), and the second President of India (1962-1967).
He received India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in its inaugural year in 1954 and won the Templeton Prize in 1975.

India celebrates Teachers' Day every year on 5th September to acknowledge the vital role of teachers in shaping society.
This special day marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned philosopher, scholar, and former President of India.
President Droupadi Murmu extended her greetings to teachers and citizens across the nation on the eve of Teachers' Day.
India has observed this national celebration annually since 1962.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on 5th September 1888 in Tiruttani, near Madras in present-day Tamil Nadu.
He spent his childhood years in sacred pilgrimage towns such as Tirupati.
He completed his studies at Madras Christian College and earned his Master's degree from Madras University.
His MA dissertation titled The Ethics of the Vedanta and Its Metaphysical Presuppositions defended the ethical values of Hindu philosophy.

He started his academic teaching career in 1909 at Madras Presidency College.
He later worked as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore and held the King George V Chair at the University of Calcutta.
He served as Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) from 1939 to 1948, protecting academic freedom during the independence movement.
He became the first Indian appointed to the Spalding Professorship of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University.
The British Academy elected him as a Fellow in 1939 for his outstanding scholarly work.

Dr. Radhakrishnan played a leading role in presenting Indian philosophical thought to the global Western audience.
He authored influential books such as Indian Philosophy and The Hindu View of Life.
His writings built strong bridges between Western philosophy and Eastern spiritual traditions.
He focused on comparative religion to encourage mutual understanding among different cultures.

He strongly believed that education serves as the most effective tool for social development and moral growth.
He led the University Education Commission (1948-49), which is popular as the Radhakrishnan Commission.
This commission established the foundational policy guidelines for modern higher education in post-independence India.
The recommendations of this commission directly brought about the creation of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

He represented India internationally as the leader of the Indian delegation to UNESCO.
He served as India's Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952 during crucial Cold War years.
He became the first Vice President of India and led the Rajya Sabha as Chairman from 1952 to 1962.
He served as the second President of India from 13th May 1962 to 13th May 1967, guiding the nation through war periods.

The nation honored him with the inaugural Bharat Ratna in 1954, India's highest civilian award.
The British Crown awarded him a Knighthood in 1931, though he set the title aside after independence.
He received prestigious international honors including Germany's Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts (1954) and the Goethe Plaque (1959).
He won the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade (1961) and the Templeton Prize in 1975 for his spiritual work.
He passed away on 17th April 1975, leaving behind a timeless legacy in education and public leadership.