Teachers Provide Not Only Knowledge but Also the Vision for Thought and Life Values: Teacher’s Day Celebrated at IIAS
The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla, organised a special programme today to mark Teacher’s Day. The programme was attended by Fellows, scholars, academics, officers and employees of the Institute.
At the beginning of the programme, the significance of Teacher’s Day and India’s rich Guru-Shishya tradition were recalled, with special tribute paid to the life and contributions of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Floral tributes were offered by all those present to his portrait. Dr Radhakrishnan, besides being a great philosopher, educationist and thinker, was also the Founder-President of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. His ideals as a teacher and his deep commitment to knowledge had a profound influence on Indian education and intellectual life. The occasion of Teacher’s Day holds particular significance for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study as the intellectual vision and conception of advanced study associated with the great educationist in whose memory the day is celebrated also have a deep connection with the establishment of the Institute.
On the occasion, Professor S. Ranganath, Fellow, IIAS, reflected on the role of teachers and the broader purpose of education. Referring to the life and personality of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, he highlighted his philosophical thought, dedication to education, and efforts to connect the Indian knowledge tradition with global intellectual discourse. He described a teacher not merely as a transmitter of curricular and subject-specific knowledge, but as a guide who helps develop discernment, reflective thinking and a humane outlook among students. The life of Dr Radhakrishnan, he observed, exemplifies how the role of a teacher can extend far beyond the confines of the classroom to contribute to the intellectual development of society and the nation.
This was followed by a special lecture by Professor Brijendra Pandey, Fellow, IIAS. In his address, he highlighted the historical and intellectual significance of Teacher’s Day and recalled the contribution of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Referring to Radhakrishnan’s philosophical outlook and his ideas on education, he emphasised the need to connect knowledge with life and society. Recalling Dr Radhakrishnan’s role as the Founder-President of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, he also underlined that the purpose of advanced study extends beyond academic specialisation to encourage independent thought, dialogue and wider human concerns.
Reflecting on the changing nature of education and the role of teachers in the present era, Professor Pandey observed that the importance of teachers has not diminished in an age of rapid information dissemination. Rather, their role has become even more significant in providing authentic knowledge, thoughtful reasoning and intellectual direction. He described teachers as carriers of an intellectual tradition that inspires students to question, reflect and explore new possibilities of knowledge. In this context, the scholarship and broad philosophical vision of Dr Radhakrishnan were highlighted as continuing to remain relevant.
The programme was chaired by Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, Indian Institute of Advanced Study. In his presidential address, he highlighted the significance of Teacher’s Day and paid respectful tribute to Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He observed that Radhakrishnan’s life represents an outstanding synthesis of Indian education, philosophy and the pursuit of knowledge. As a great teacher, philosopher and educationist, his contribution played an important role in placing the Indian intellectual tradition on the global stage. Highlighting his association with the establishment of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Professor Chaturvedi noted that for the Institute, Teacher’s Day is significant not merely as an important national observance, but also as an occasion connected with its intellectual heritage and the memory of its Founder-President.
Professor Chaturvedi connected the role of teachers with the intellectual and ethical development of society, observing that a teacher does not merely impart knowledge but also helps develop the capacity for thought and a broader perspective. He emphasised the importance of independent thinking, dialogue and the continuous pursuit of knowledge in the fields of higher education and advanced study. In this context, the relationship between the academic tradition of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and Dr Radhakrishnan’s vision of advanced study was also highlighted.
The programme was moderated by Dr Rajeev Kumar Mishra, Librarian and Academic Resource Officer, IIAS, who highlighted the contemporary relevance of Teacher’s Day and recalled the life and contributions of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
A key theme that emerged during the programme was that the true role of a teacher is not confined merely to the transmission of knowledge. Teachers play an important role in nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, discernment and human sensitivity among students. The life and thought of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan provide a notable example of this broader responsibility of a teacher.
The occasion holds particular significance for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, as both Teacher’s Day and the intellectual heritage of the Institute are closely connected with the personality and legacy of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The ideals established by him in the fields of education, philosophy and advanced study continue to inspire independent and deeper intellectual discourse.
The programme was attended by National Fellows, Tagore Fellows, Fellows, IUC Associates, Section Heads and other members of the Institute.
