National Teachers Day 2022: India observes National Teachers Day also known as  Shikshak Divas on 5th September every year.

Key Points:

• This day is observed to commemorate birthday of country’s first Vice President and second President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• This day is celebrated with various programmes being organized in schools and colleges throughout the country to honour of teachers who shaped the lives of students and showed them path of success.

Teachers Day 2022 celebration:

• President Droupadi Murmu will confer National Awards to 46 selected teachers for the year 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi New Delhi.
• Out of 46 teachers selected for National Award to teachers, two disabled teachers will be honored under special category. Of these, one teacher is from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one from Uttarakhand.
• The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education has been organizing a national level function on Teachers Day every year to confer the National Awards to best teachers of the country.
• The selection is done through a transparent and online three stage selection process.
• The main goal of National Awards to Teachers is to celebrate the unique contribution of teachers in the country and to honour those teachers who through their commitment and industry have not only improved the quality of school education but also enriched the lives of their students.

National Teachers Day 2022: Theme

• The theme for the year 2022 teachers’ day is ‘Leading in crisis, reimaging the future.’

History:

• Teachers’ day was first observed in the year 1962 on Dr. Radhakrishan's 77th birthday.

• In 1962, when Dr. Radhakrishan became India's second president, his students came to him to ask for permission to observe September 5 as a special day.
• Instead, Dr. Radhakrishnan asked them to commemorate September 5 as Teachers' Day in order to recognise the value of teachers to society.

• Ever since then, September 5 has been celebrated as Teacher’s Day across schools, colleges, universities and educational institutions.
• Students put on performances, dances and host elaborate shows for their most-loved teachers.

Significance:

• The future of a country is built by educators like Radhakrishnan who make sure their students have the necessary education and life experience to lead moral lives.
• Teachers’ Day helps highlight their role, their plight and their rights in our society.

About Dr. Radhakrishnan:

• Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the second President of India from 1962-1967 and a well-renowned educationist.
• He was also the first Vice President of India from 1952–1962.
• He was also the 2nd Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952 & 4th Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948.
• He was an Indian philosopher and statesman who was well-known for his work in the 20th century in the fields of comparative religion and philosophy.
• He was one of the founders of Helpage India, a non-profit organisation for the elderly underprivileged in India.

Birth and Education:

• He was born on 5 September 1888 in a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin family, in Tiruttani of Madras district in the erstwhile Madras Presidency (now in Tamil Nadu).
• He was awarded scholarships throughout his academic life.
• He joined Voorhees College in Vellore for his high school education.
• After his F.A. (First of Arts) class, he joined the Madras Christian College (affiliated to the University of Madras) at the age of 16.
• He graduated from there in 1907, and also finished his Masters at the same college.

Awards and Honours:

• Radhakrishnan was awarded several high awards during his life including a knighthood in 1931.
• He was first recipient Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award along with politician C. Rajagopalachari, scientist C. V. Raman in 1954.
• He was also awarded British Royal Order of Merit  in 1963.