Governor Kavinder Gupta Celebrates Teachers on a Special Day in Shimla

On a crisp September morning in Shimla, the atmosphere at Lok Bhavan buzzed with gratitude and a touch of ceremony. Governor Kavinder Gupta, the head of Himachal Pradesh, stood beside a modest podium and, with a warm smile, handed out State Awards to thirty‑two teachers who had gone above and beyond in their classrooms. One educator, whose dedication shone especially bright, received the coveted National Award for 2025.

“Teaching isn’t just about the syllabus,” the Governor mused, his voice echoing slightly off the hall’s high ceiling. “It’s about nurturing values, confidence, and character. When teachers inspire, they don’t just fill minds – they light futures.” He paused, perhaps remembering his own school days, before adding that teachers, parents, and students all share the heavy‑lifting of building a stronger education system.

Marking the birthday of former President and renowned scholar Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Gupta paid tribute to the man whose very name is synonymous with the teaching profession. “Radhakrishnan taught us that a teacher’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom walls,” he said, a hint of reverence in his tone.

Turning to the bigger picture, the Governor highlighted the ambitions of the National Education Policy 2020. “Education today isn’t just exams and degrees,” he explained. “It’s about creativity, research, and the kind of critical thinking that prepares our youth for a world ruled by AI, robotics, and digital innovation.” He praised flagship programmes such as PM SHRI Schools, NIPUN Bharat, Samagra Shiksha, and the Atal Tinkering Labs for giving students a taste of real‑world problem‑solving.

Technology, he noted, can be a helpful assistant, but it can never replace the human touch of a teacher – the encouragement, the affection, the values that linger long after a lesson ends.

The Governor also took a moment to commend Himachal Pradesh’s impressive standing in the recent PARAKH National Survey. The state had clinched the second spot in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, a testament, he said, to the relentless efforts of its teachers and administrators.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, who joined the ceremony, echoed the Governor’s optimism. He reminded the audience that Himachal now boasts a 100 % literacy rate and that the government has filled more than 9,000 vacancies in the education department. New initiatives, such as introducing English from class I while still nurturing local languages, aim to strike a balanced linguistic approach.

Thakur also answered questions from the Primary Teachers’ Association, assuring that the government is aware of their concerns and is working on solutions, from staff shortages to better exposure trips for both students and teachers.

As the event drew to a close, Governor Gupta released a souvenir capturing the day’s highlights and offered a heartfelt wish: “May every teacher continue to be a beacon of knowledge and values for generations to come.” The applause that followed felt less like a formality and more like a genuine salute to those who spend their lives shaping tomorrow.