Kumar Bahukhandi
Pragati College Principal Dr Soumya Nayyar addresses students during the Teachers’ Day programme organised by the Department of Education in Raipur on Monday, September 7, 2026. Administrator Jyoti Thakur, Head of the Department of Commerce and Management Dr Amit Singh Thakur and Head of the Department of Science Manu Rawani are seen seated on the dais-Photo Credit:channel24india.com
Principal Dr Soumya Nayyar and Education Department Head Dr K. N. Gajpal underline the responsibility of teachers in nurturing young minds and building responsible citizens
Raipur, September 7, 2026: The Department of Education at Pragati College, Raipur, marked Teachers’ Day on Monday with a message that went beyond celebration, reminding future teachers that their profession carries the responsibility of shaping not merely successful students but responsible citizens committed to the nation.
Addressing students on the occasion, Principal Dr Soumya Nayyar invoked the life and legacy of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the distinguished teacher, philosopher and statesman whose birth anniversary is observed as Teachers’ Day in India.
Dr Nayyar urged the students, particularly those preparing to enter the teaching profession, to draw inspiration from Dr Radhakrishnan’s remarkable journey from the classroom to the highest constitutional office of the country.
“Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a teacher who went on to become the President of India. His life itself demonstrates the dignity, influence and possibilities associated with the teaching profession,” she said.
Emphasising that teaching cannot be reduced to completing a syllabus or preparing students for examinations, Dr Nayyar said that a teacher plays a formative role in the intellectual and social development of young people.
“The responsibility of a teacher is to nurture the minds of students, develop their abilities and mould them into individuals who can contribute meaningfully to the service of the country,” she said.
Her message assumed particular significance for students of the Education Department, many of whom are preparing to become teachers themselves. The occasion therefore served not only as a tribute to teachers but also as a reminder of the responsibilities they will eventually assume in classrooms of their own.
Teaching Builds the Citizen
Addressing the students, Dr K. N. Gajpal, Head of the Department of Education, described teaching as a noble profession whose contribution extends far beyond the boundaries of a classroom.
He stressed that teachers influence the values, discipline, outlook and sense of responsibility that students carry into society.
“Teaching is a noble profession. A teacher does not merely impart knowledge; the profession helps the country create educated and responsible citizens,” Dr Gajpal said.
He encouraged the future educators to recognise that their role would require patience, commitment and a strong sense of responsibility towards their students.
The Teachers’ Day programme also reflected on the enduring relevance of Dr Radhakrishnan’s belief in the transformative power of education. His journey as a scholar and teacher before serving as the second President of India continues to symbolise the respect traditionally accorded to teachers and scholarship in the country.
Administrator Jyoti Thakur, Head of the Department of Commerce and Management Dr Amit Singh Thakur, Head of the Department of Science Manu Rawani, faculty members and students were present during the programme.
The celebration concluded with a message particularly relevant to those preparing for careers in education: a teacher’s achievement is ultimately reflected not simply in the marks obtained by students, but in the kind of human beings and citizens they become.
