5^th September ‘teachers day’ is the very special day to all the teachers and students. I am quite sure that all the students must be preparing some surprises for their teachers.  This is the day when everyone in India thanks their teachers in various ways such as writing poems, dance, drama, giving greeting cards, gifts, bouquets etc.  It is a day when the most strict teacher also smiles and says ‘Thank you students for your love and affection’.

But have you ever thought about why  we celebrate teachers day on 5^th September and why not on any other day of the year’?

Many will answer me that 5^th September 1888 is the birthday of the second President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and it has been celebrated as Teacher’s Day. It  is celebrated as a tribute to all the teachers.  Dr. S Radhakrishnan  was a philosopher and a statesman and was our first vice president of India. He had a remarkable contribution to this country.

But, I would like to say that we should perhaps celebrate another great Indian on Teachers’ Day. This thought struck me after getting the knowledge of one woman who had spent her entire life in spreading the light of education to the ordinary folk of India. She was the very first lady teacher,  Savitribai Phule’.

She was born on 3^rd January 1831 and belonged to Dalit community and was the first Indian woman  teacher of the first women’s school in India.

At the time when women and dalits were denied education by the Brahmin community, she was like a candle for all.  She had started educational movement for all, especially the  Dalits  and laid the foundation for first school in the country for girls and the ‘Native Library’.

In the male dominant society; where casteism is the intrinsic part of the population. Savitribai had to struggle a lot for her own education and for the education of Dalit girls.  When Savitribai went to teach in school people threw stones and mud at her; she took two saris with her everyday. After reaching at school she would change her sari and teach her girls at school and again at the time of going back to the home; people repeated the same but she didn’t gave up and continued her fight.

In 1863, she started a ‘home for the prevention of infanticide’ in her own house, to ensure the safety of pregnant and exploited widows. Savitribai Phule was against child marriage and supported widow remarriages. She became a voice for the voiceless and a burning candle for the one who lived in darkness.

So don’t you think Savitribai phule should get a tribute for her considerable contribution in the world of education?

As teachers day is a special day to appreciate the teachers who makes a remarkable contribution in the lives of the students. I strongly feel that teacher’s day should be celebrated on 3^rd January. Savitribai’s contribution to education that should be taught in our schools and known to people and especially students.

Seema Kumari

  savitribai phule, teachers day