TED News Desk, New Delhi: On the occasion of the 61st Teachers’ Day, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred National Awards to teachers for the year 2018 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Along with the President, officers, and staff of the Rashtrapati Bhavan paid floral tributes to Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, who was a philosopher-author and India’s second president. This teachers’ day marked his 61st birth anniversary.
President Kovind, speaking at the occasion said that the foundations of character building are laid down in schools. “For students, teachers are like parents. Teachers should understand their fundamental responsibilities. In order to have a smart new generation, we have to teach them how to maintain a balance between knowledge and discretion,” he said.
“Chandragupta Maurya is known by the name of his Guru, thus Guru plays a major role in the growth of a child,” he said, citing Chanakya Niti. Highlighting the inseparable bond of Chandragupta with his Guru, President Kovind attempted to show the integral role played by teachers in our society. He also stressed that teachers must educate children about air pollution, climate change and the importance of water.
“The purpose of National Awards to Teachers is to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest 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.”, as per the Ministry of Education. The awards are annually conferred to those teachers who have not only contributed to improving the quality of education but also enriched the lives of their students within the year. The prestigious award carries with it a silver medal and a cash reward of Rs. 50,000. Teacher’s Day is celebrated across India in the memory of Radhakrishna, who was born on September 5, 1888. The distinguished status given to Dr. Radhakrishnan is because of his outstanding contributions towards education in India.
In 1962, the tradition of celebrating Teachers’ Day was started in honour of Dr. Radhakrishnan and all teachers who devote their lives into furthering the education and knowledge of their students.
