About Teachers’ Day
Teachers' Day in India is observed on 5 September, the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the philosopher and teacher who became the country's second President. It has been marked since 1962, when he asked that his birthday honour teachers instead of him. In 2027 it falls on Sunday, 5 September 2027.
In February 1921, when Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan left Mysore to take up a chair at the University of Calcutta, his students decorated a carriage with flowers and pulled it to the railway station themselves. One of them, M. Yamunacharya, later recalled that his philosophy lectures had been "daily feasts". Teachers' Day in India is built on that kind of regard, and on a request Radhakrishnan made four decades later.
How did Teachers' Day begin in India?
Teachers' Day began in India in 1962 and is held on 5 September, the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, born in 1888 in Tiruttani, in present-day Tamil Nadu. When he became President in 1962, students and friends asked to celebrate his birthday. He replied that he would be prouder if the day were observed as Teachers' Day instead, and it has been ever since.
The choice fits because Radhakrishnan was a teacher for most of his working life before he entered public office. He taught at Presidency College in Madras and at Maharaja's College in Mysore, held the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science in Calcutta from 1921, and was Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford from 1936 to 1952. He was also Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University during the Second World War.
- 1888Born in Tiruttani
Born on 5 September in the Madras Presidency.
- 1918–1921Mysore
Teaches philosophy at Maharaja's College; students pull his carriage to the station when he leaves.
- 1923Indian Philosophy
Publishes the first volume of his two-volume history of Indian thought; the second follows in 1927.
- 1936–1952Oxford
Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics.
- 1939–1948BHU
Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University.
- 1952–1962Vice President
India's first Vice President.
- 1954Bharat Ratna
Among the first three people to receive it.
- 1962–1967President
India's second President; the first Teachers' Day is held on his birthday in 1962.
- 1975Dies in Madras
Dies on 17 April.
How do schools celebrate Teachers' Day in India?
Schools in India celebrate Teachers' Day with a programme organised by students rather than staff. In many schools senior students take over classes for the day, teaching the younger ones while the teachers sit back or watch. There are assemblies with speeches about Radhakrishnan, songs, skits in which students imitate their teachers affectionately, and handmade cards. Colleges hold felicitations for retiring and long-serving faculty.
At the national level, the Ministry of Education holds a ceremony on 5 September at which the President of India presents the National Teachers' Awards. In 2025, 45 school teachers from 27 states, 7 union territories and 6 organisations such as the CBSE and CISCE were chosen through a three-stage online process at district, state and national levels. Each award carries a certificate of merit, a silver medal and ₹50,000.
How is Teachers' Day different from Guru Purnima and World Teachers' Day?
Teachers' Day on 5 September is a secular Indian observance tied to Radhakrishnan's birthday. Guru Purnima, on the full moon of Ashadha in June or July, is an older religious day on which Hindus, Buddhists and Jains honour spiritual and academic teachers with guru puja. World Teachers' Day on 5 October was set up by UNESCO in 1994. Many schools in India mark all three in some way.
| Day | Date | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers' Day (India) | 5 September | Birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan; marked since 1962 |
| Guru Purnima | Ashadha full moon, June or July | Hindu, Buddhist and Jain day for honouring the guru |
| World Teachers' Day | 5 October | Set up by UNESCO in 1994 |
| China | 10 September | National Teachers' Day |
| Thailand | 16 January | Anniversary of the 1945 Teachers Act |
| United States | Tuesday of the first full week of May | National Teacher Day |
For the UN observance, see World Teachers' Day. International Literacy Day follows on 8 September.
What should you write on Teachers' Day?
A Teachers' Day message should name something specific: a subject they made you like, the day they believed you when no one else did, the letter of recommendation. Add your name, class and year if you are writing years later; a teacher who has taught thousands of students will be glad of the reminder.
Happy Teachers' Day, Ma'am. I still write "Given, To find, Solution" on every problem, including the ones at work. Thank you. (Priya, Class 10 B, 2014)
Happy Teachers' Day, Sir. Your office hours taught me more than any textbook, and I'd never have applied for the fellowship without your nudge.
Happy Teachers' Day. Thank you for the extra Sunday classes before boards and for never once making me feel slow.
Happy Teachers' Day, Coach. The 6 am practices were brutal, and they are why I still run. Thank you.
On Teachers' Day, pranam, Guruji. Every riyaaz still begins with what you taught me in the first lesson.
Happy Teachers' Day, Papa. The first teacher I ever had was at the kitchen table with a slate and a lot of patience.
Happy Teachers' Day to someone who still marks copies at 11 pm and still loves the job. Proud to share a staffroom with you.
Do
- Choose a handwritten card or letter over a bought gift.
- Include support staff who teach too: lab assistants, librarians, special educators.
- If your school has a rule about gifts, follow it; many discourage anything costly.
Avoid
- Avoid expensive gifts, gift cards or cash; they can embarrass a teacher.
- Don't send the same forwarded message to every teacher; one real line is better.
- Don't post videos mimicking a teacher without their consent.
India also marks Children's Day on 14 November and National Education Day on 11 November.
How to wish someone on Teachers’ Day
A good Teachers' Day message names what the teacher actually did: the chapter that finally made sense, the extra class, the push to apply for something. Teachers remember students, so mention your batch or year if you have left school. Keep gifts modest, and don't forget coaches, tuition teachers, music gurus and the parent who taught you at the kitchen table.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + recipient language.
When is Teachers’ Day in 2026 and 2027?
Teachers’ Day is on 5 Sept every year. Only the weekday changes.
- 2026
- 2027
Frequently asked questions
Why is Teachers' Day celebrated on 5 September in India?
Teachers' Day is celebrated on 5 September because it is the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India's second President and a philosophy professor. When students asked to celebrate his birthday in 1962, he asked that it be observed as Teachers' Day instead.
When was the first Teachers' Day celebrated in India?
The first Teachers' Day in India was celebrated on 5 September 1962, the year Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan became President of India.
What is the difference between Teachers' Day and World Teachers' Day?
Teachers' Day in India is on 5 September and honours Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's birthday. World Teachers' Day is an international observance on 5 October, set up by UNESCO in 1994.
What is a good gift for a teacher on Teachers' Day?
The best gift for a teacher on Teachers' Day is usually a handwritten card or letter that mentions something specific they did for you. Many schools discourage costly gifts, and cash or gift cards can embarrass a teacher.
What are the National Teachers' Awards?
The National Teachers' Awards are given by the President of India every 5 September to outstanding school teachers, selected by the Ministry of Education through a district, state and national process. Each award carries a certificate, a silver medal and ₹50,000.
Where did Dr Radhakrishnan teach?
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan taught at Presidency College in Madras, Maharaja's College in Mysore and the University of Calcutta. He was Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford from 1936 to 1952 and Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University.
Last verified by the Kehdoo team on .