Happy Teacher's Day – A tribute to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and every guiding Guru

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

This beautiful Sanskrit Guru Shloka expresses the profound respect given to a teacher in Indian tradition. It sees the Guru as Brahma, the source of knowledge and creation; Vishnu, the one who nurtures and guides; and Maheshwara, the one who helps remove ignorance. The verse ultimately bows to the Guru as a manifestation of the highest truth and wisdom.

Teacher's Day in India is celebrated on September 5, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, philosopher, scholar, teacher and the second President of India. When his students wished to celebrate his birthday, he famously suggested that September 5 instead be observed as Teachers' Day, making the occasion a tribute to teachers and their contribution to society.

This image brings together that spirit of Teacher's Day and the timeless Indian idea of the Guru. A great teacher does much more than teach lessons from a book. Teachers awaken curiosity, build confidence, correct us when necessary and often influence the direction of our lives long after we leave the classroom.

On this Teacher's Day, we offer our gratitude to every teacher, mentor and Guru who has shared knowledge, encouraged us through difficulties and helped us become better human beings. Happy Teacher's Day to all the wonderful teachers who continue to illuminate countless lives through knowledge and wisdom.