Bihar

• 29 Aug 2024

National Teachers Awards 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Ministry of Education has selected Two Bihar educators for the National Teachers Award, 2024.

Key Points

• The selected teachers are: Sikendra Kumar Suman, the principal-in-charge of Tarhani New Primary School in Kaimur district and Dr Meenakshi Kumari, teacher at Shiv Ganga Girls High School in Madhubani district.
• They will be felicitated by President Draupadi Murmu on Teacher’s Day at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.
  • The award is given to teachers for outstanding contribution in the field of education.They will be given a cash prize of ₹50,000, a silver medal and a citation.
  • A total of 50 teachers have been selected for the prestigious award from all over the country.

Teacher’s Day

• Teachers' Day, celebrated annually on 5th September since 1962, honours the contributions of educators, including teachers, researchers, and professors in India.
  • Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the President of India at the time, suggested observing his birthday as Teachers' Day in response to students' requests for celebration.
• About Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan:
  • Birth:
    • He was born into a Telugu family in Tiruttani town of Tamil Nadu, on 5th September, 1888.
  • Academics:
    • He studied philosophy at Christian College, Madras, and later became a professor at Madras Presidency College and the University of Mysore.
  • Employment:
    • He served as the first Vice-President of India from 1952 to 1962 and the second President of India from 1962 to 1967.
    • He was also the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952. He was the fourth Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948.
  • Recognition:
    • In 1984, he was posthumously (after death) awarded the Bharat Ratna.
  • Notable Works:
    • Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy, Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore, The Hindu View of Life, Kalki or the Future of Civilisation, An Idealist View of Life, The Religion We Need, India and China, and Gautama the Buddha.