Teacher's Day

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the man behind Teachers' Day

Former President of India, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, chose to turn his birthday into a remarkable day where teachers would be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to education and teaching.

Here are five things you need to know about this eminent teacher:

1. Dr. Radhakrishnan was the first elected Vice-President of India in 1952

2. He was a great philosopher and penned several books on the subject while teaching at the Madras University.

3. This learned philosopher didn't have support from his economically backward family for his education. Since he was from a small village close to the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, his father wanted him to become a priest at a temple than study further. But Radhakrishnan went on to finish his MA in Philosophy and his first book called "Indian Philosophy" published in 1923  was termed a "philosophical classic and a literary masterpiece."

4. Radhakrishnan was often called by universities abroad to deliver lectures on Hindu philosophy and he used this platform to talk about India's need for freedom. With this he also made a mark for Indian Philosophy on the world map.

5. He was also appointed as ambassador to UNESCO in 1946 and went on further to be appointed as ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1949 during which he established a strong relationship with them.

It was with his ideology and perseverance as Chair to the Union Education Commission in 1948 that India's education system was changed for the better.