Happy Teachers Day !

I happily join you in celebrating Teachers' Day in memory of the great philosopher, thinker and teacher, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President of India. On this day, I honour and express my gratitude to all our teachers and tell them that I am blessed because of their presence in my life.

I am reminded of an incident during the Second World War. When it became evident, even to the British Government, that London will be soon bombed, they thought of building Bomb Shelters underground. But they knew that they cannot build enough Shelters to save the entire population, hence a debate ensued. The political leaders thought that they should be the ones to be protected first as they would re-lead the nation back to its original glory. The Engineers felt that they deserve to be protected as they will be needed to rebuild the country. The Doctors felt that they should be protected as they would nurture the country back to health. The Entrepreneur felt that after the bombing, only they can help build a strong economy. But the Parliament, after all the debate decided that the Teachers & the Libraries should be protected, for they, alone, can give us good leaders to lead the nation, good Doctors to give us a healthy nation, good Engineers to rebuild the nation, good entrepreneurs to make our economy strong again. Hence the teachers were the first to be invited to shift into the Bomb Shelters.

So, today, I request the Government of India and those of various states, to please keep education as their first priority while planning budgets. During these difficult and trying times of Covid 19, various Governments have compassionately thought of various professions and various categories of people, but the Educational Institutions are not getting their due and are being marginalised.

The nation had saluted the “Corona Warriors”, and rightly so. Today, I salute you, dear teachers, the true “Builders of the Nation” on whose endeavours, will stand the New India, the Educated India, the Knowledgeable and Wise India - and these will be the foundation stones of the new Skilled India, the Atmanirbhar India.

I wish all of you, specially the awardees (National, CBSE, and other awardees), every success and fulfilment in your personal life and in your passion of teaching. In the end I request all of you to please look after yourselves and stay healthy. God Bless and Keep Smiling!