Jairam Ramesh Honors Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on Teachers' Day, Mourns Loss of Iconic Portrait in New Rajya Sabha Hall

When the calendar flips to September 5, classrooms across India buzz with celebrations, cards, and a reminder of why teachers matter. This year, the day carried extra resonance for Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, who took to social media to salute Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan – the scholar‑statesman whose birthday marks the occasion.

Ramesh’s post on X was more than a polite nod. He recalled Radhakrishnan’s many hats – a brilliant philosopher, an eloquent writer, a charismatic speaker, and, briefly, a diplomat in the USSR. "He was the first Vice‑President and the second President of India, a man deeply devoted to education and institution‑building," Ramesh wrote, his tone a mix of admiration and quiet sadness.

Why the melancholy? The veteran leader pointed out that Radhakrishnan’s portrait, which had hung in the Rajya Sabha for decades, is now absent from the newly designed chamber. "The sole portrait that reminded members of the colossus who presided over the Council of States for ten years is sadly gone in this architectural monstrosity," he lamented.

To underline his tribute, Ramesh shared three historic photographs. One captures Radhakrishnan alongside a newly‑appointed Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and K. Kamaraj in June 1964. Another shows him with Vice‑President Dr. Zakir Hussain and Shastri in November the same year. The third snap, taken in 1954, places him beside President Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru – a friendship that, according to Ramesh, lasted for decades.

Beyond the nostalgia, Ramesh reminded everyone what Teachers' Day truly celebrates: the birth anniversary of a man who, long before the title became a national holiday, embodied the spirit of teaching. Radhakrishnan’s life was a testament to learning as a public service, a belief that still shapes India’s education policies.

Every year, students across the country use the day to thank their mentors, schools organize cultural programmes, and the media revisits Radhakrishnan’s contributions. This year’s homage from a senior politician adds a political dimension, urging lawmakers to remember the educational ideals the former president championed.

In a world where buildings get renovated and portraits shuffled, the memory of leaders like Radhakrishnan endures in classrooms, in policy debates, and in the occasional tweet that tries to keep history alive.