Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Teachers Day

5th September

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, was one of the most distinguished diplomat, scholar and teacher, apart from being the President of India. As a tribute to this great teacher, his birthday is observed as Teacher's Day. As a matter of fact when his students and friends asked him for the permission to celebrate his birthday, he asked them to celebrate the day as Teacher's day.

President of India Late Dr. S Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, at Tiruttani, forty miles to the Northeast of Madras, in South India. His early years were spent in Tiruttani and Tirupati, both famous as pilgrim centers. He graduated with a Master's Degree in Arts from Madras University. In April 1909, he was appointed to the Department of Philosophy at the Madras Presidency College. From then onwards, he was engaged in the serious study of Indian philosophy and religion, and was a teacher of Philosophy.

1918, Doctor Radha Krishnan was appointed Professor of Philosophy in the University of Mysore. Three years later, he was appointed to the most important philosophy chair in India, King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science in the University of Calcutta. Dr. Radhakrishnan represented University of Calcutta at the Congress of the Universities of the British Empire in June 1926 and the International Congress of Philosophy at the Harvard University in September 1926.

Why September 5th?

India has been celebrating Teacher's Day on 5th of September since 1962. 5th of September is the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakhrishnan, a philosopher and a teacher par excellence.

In 1929, Dr. Radhakrishnan was invited to take the post vacated by Principal J. Estin Carpenter in Manchester College, Oxford.

From 1936-39, Dr. Radhakrishnan was the Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University. In 1939, he was elected Fellow of the British Academy. From 1939-48, he was the Vice-Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University. He later held offices that dealt with India's national and international affairs. He was the leader of the Indian delegation to UNESCO during 1946-52. He was the Ambassador of India to U.S.S.R. during 1949-52.

He was the Vice-President of India from 1952-1962 and the President, General Conference of UNESCO from 1952-54. He held the office of the Chancellor, University of Delhi, from 1953-62. In 1962, Dr. Radhakrishnan became the President of India. And from May 1962 to May 1967, he served as the President of India.

Details :
Born: 5th September 1888
Died: 25th April 1975
Term : 13th May 1962 to 13th May 1967


Issued in 1967 on Retirement



Issued in 1989 to mark Birth Centenary

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