Every year on 5 September, India celebrates Teachers’ Day—a day dedicated to the people who do much more than teach lessons from textbooks. For many children, teachers are the first real-world examples of authority, knowledge, and care outside the home, making “teacher” a natural and frequent first career choice. Teachers inspire, guide, encourage and, often, see potential in us long before we see it in ourselves.

A teacher may begin the day explaining a difficult mathematical formula, a chapter of history or the laws of science. But somewhere along the way, they are also teaching us patience, curiosity, discipline, confidence and the courage to ask questions.
More Than a Classroom
The influence of a good teacher rarely ends when the school bell rings.
Teachers are often the first people outside our families to recognise our strengths and understand our weaknesses. They encourage the hesitant child to speak up, push the talented student to aim higher and remind those who stumble that failure is not the end of the journey.

Sometimes, all it takes is a teacher saying, “You can do it.”
Years later, we may forget the exact lessons taught in a classroom. But we remember the teacher who believed in us.

Why 5th September?
In India, Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5 September, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a distinguished philosopher, scholar, teacher and the second President of India.
When his students and admirers wanted to celebrate his birthday, Dr. Radhakrishnan suggested that the day instead be observed as Teachers’ Day. Since then, 5 th September has become a special occasion to acknowledge the contribution of teachers to society.
His life reflected a deep belief in the power of education and the important role teachers play in shaping individuals and, ultimately, the nation.
The Teacher in a Changing World

The classroom has changed dramatically. Digital learning, artificial intelligence, online resources and technology have transformed how students access information.
But information is not the same as education. A search engine can provide an answer. Technology can explain a concept. Artificial intelligence can generate information. But a teacher can help a student understand why that knowledge matters.In an increasingly digital world, this human role becomes even more valuable.

In recent years, schools worldwide have witnessed a sharp rise in *student behaviour problems, leaving teachers under immense stress. Reports show that over 80% of teachers feel classroom disruptions have worsened, leading to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and declining job satisfaction.

Teachers Shape More Than Careers
They teach us to respect differences, think critically, work with others, take responsibility and contribute to society. Whether a student eventually becomes a scientist, entrepreneur, artist, soldier, doctor, engineer, civil servant or teacher, the foundations are often laid in a classroom.
Behind many successful people is a teacher whose name may not appear in the headlines—but whose influence does.
A Thank You That Matters
Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to pause and say something that we may not say often enough:
Thank you.
Thank you for answering the same question more than once.
Thank you for encouraging us when we doubted ourselves.
Thank you for correcting our mistakes.
Thank you for celebrating our achievements.
And thank you for teaching us lessons that went far beyond the syllabus.
Because the best teachers don’t simply prepare students for an examination. They prepare them for life.

Education may give us knowledge, but teachers give that knowledge direction.
This Teachers’ Day, let us celebrate every teacher who has made a difference—inside and outside the classroom.