By N. Niranjan Nikam
Today, September 5, is National Teachers' Day, celebrated in the memory of the first Vice-President and second President of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, one of the greatest teachers the world has produced. When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the second President of India, some of his fans and students met him to request his permission to commemorate his birthday with a celebration. He replied saying, "Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is celebrated as Teachers' Day" and from 1962 this celebration began. What is the connection of Dr. Radhakrishnan to Mysuru? He came to Mysuru exactly one hundred years ago in 1918 to join the University of Mysore at the young age of 29 as Professor in the Philosophy Department. The first Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore H.V. Nanjundayya had selected him and he came after having taught in the Department of Philosophy at the Madras Presidency College, since 1909. He taught in Maharaja's College from July 1918 to February 1921. It is said that when he came to Mysuru, he first took up a house in Lakshmipuram and later moved to the huge Professors’ Quarters near the Fire Brigade in Saraswathipuram. The University of Mysore, in a fitting tribute to the memory of the best teacher, has restored the bungalow to its old glory and converted it as ‘Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Centre for Philosophy and Indian Culture.’
