Agartala, September 5:Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the portfolio of School Education Minister, on Friday emphasised the pivotal role of teachers in shaping future generations while attending the 64th Teacher’s Day celebration at Rabindra Bhavan in Agartala.
In his address, Dr. Saha likened teachers to the roots of a tree that nurture the flowers and fruits—students—helping them bloom and carry forward society from darkness to light.
“Teachers not only impart bookish knowledge but also provide physical, mental and emotional support to students. They should strive to create good human beings with moral values while also continuously upgrading their own skills and learning with patience,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of cultural grounding, Dr. Saha said, “The need of the hour is to know one’s self and one’s heritage.”
He added that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Education Policy (NEP) has been introduced to bring qualitative changes in the education system, with a strong focus on Indian cultural heritage and rich history.
The Chief Minister further stated that his government has transformed the teacher recruitment process by introducing transparent methods like TET and TPSC, unlike the practices under the previous regime.
He assured that teachers today no longer need to agitate on the streets for basic demands such as Dearness Allowance (DA), as the government has been releasing dues regularly and is working to further reduce the disparity between state and central government employees.
Several teachers and former teachers were felicitated during the ceremony for their contributions to education, including lifetime achievement awards.
Speaking on the larger impact of educators, Dr. Saha, who himself was teaching in a medical college said that teachers are beacons of guidance who influence a student’s journey beyond classrooms, instilling values, life skills, and knowledge that help them grow and transform into their best selves.
The event was organised by the School Education Department and attended by dignitaries including Padma Shri Arunadoy Saha, Special Secretary Ravel Kumar, and Director of School Education Nripendra Chandra Sarma.
Teacher’s Day is observed annually on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President, an eminent philosopher, teacher, and scholar. Dr. Radhakrishnan had wished for his birthday to be celebrated as a day to honour the nation’s teachers, a tradition that has continued since 1962.
