In India, September 5 is celebrated as Teachers’ Day as a tribute to the contribution made by teachers to society. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan - India’s former President, scholar, philosopher and Bharat Ratna awardee - was born on this day in 1888. When Dr Radhakrishan took the office of the second President of India in 1962, his students approached him to seek permission to celebrate September 5 as a special day. Dr Radhakrishnan instead made a request to observe September 5 as Teachers’ Day, to recognise the contribution of teachers to society.