We come from a culture that teaches us to see parents and educators as akin to god and respect them as such. Knowledge and love are two of the strongest forces in our lives, and the loved ones we have in our lives and educators we meet along the way are the two pillars of love and knowledge that keep us afloat in a world as chaotic as this! This September, we are celebrating both Teacher's Day and Grandparent's Day. Two days to honour the two sets of people who make us who we are! So let’s learn a little about these days and why it’s important to celebrate them.

Teacher's Day

Celebrated across India on September 5 every year, The Teacher's Day celebrates educators of our country. The day also marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the 2nd president of India, who was a reputed scholar and an admired educator, and September 5 is celebrated as Teacher's Day in memory of the esteemed president. According to history, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan himself suggested observing this day as Teachers’ Day to his students who wanted to celebrate his birthday. This year we are going to celebrate Teachers’ Day based on the theme ‘Empowering Educators for a Sustainable Future’.

After our parents and loved ones, teachers are people who have the most influence on us as children who are growing and getting exposed to a new world. As educators, they provide us with the knowledge that is ever precious, teach us to perceive the society and world around us, and most of all, build our worldview and guide us through life. In most of our lives, there will be at least one teacher who left a deep impression that made us who we are today. The human race is always learning from circumstances and people, and anyone who provides us with knowledge is a precious gift to our existence, so celebrating teachers and educators is the most natural thing to do!

Now how can you celebrate this Teacher's Day? September 5th is celebrated in most schools and educational institutions every year. If you are in school, you and your peers can celebrate your teachers by throwing a party, taking on the role of teacher for a day, arranging special performances, taking outdoor picnics with teachers, expressing your gratitude through a speech or letter, and exchanging sweets and gifts. Being valued for your contribution is the best gift anyone can receive, and our teachers and educators are the group of people that deserves it the most, so let's celebrate them!

Grandparent's Day

Falling on September 8th this year, Grandparent's Day in India and across the world is to celebrate our sweet and wise grandparents. The love, care, wisdom, traditions, and compassion extended from grandparents to grandchildren is precious and it should be celebrated. Being on top of the family tree, grandparents have great influence on the development of their grandbabies, and from bedtime stories to traditional celebrations, they guide us through society, teach us life lessons, and bestow their great wisdom on us.

The initiative of Marian McQuade, an American elder rights activist in the 1970s, to encourage young people to take advantage of the wisdom of the old has paved the way for Grandparent's Day. The passing of wisdom from the older generation to the young was the idea envisioned by Marian, and the relevance of that idea is expanding across the world today. A family is a unit of society; healthy and productive interactions between the youngest and oldest members of that unit will improve its overall robustness. Strong bonds between young and older generations can truly transform our society for good, and celebrating days like Grandparent's Day is a step towards that.

So, how do you celebrate Grandparent's Day? If you live with or near your grandparents, spend time with them and have a good chat; let them know how grateful you are to have them in your life. Bring them something that will make their day better. But if you are away from your grandparents, call them to wish them and write letters to express your love and gratitude. Knowing they are loved will be the sweetest gift they could get, so make sure to let them know how much you appreciate them. However, if you are someone who no longer has grandparents, remember them, and if you have time and will, visit an old age home and spend the day listening to the stories and experiences of people who have lived life before you!

End note

A day is not enough to celebrate the pillars of knowledge and love in our lives, so remember to respect and honour them every day. Akshharam Online Malayalam Learning School wishes you very happy Teacher's Day and Grandparents’ Day! We are a prominent Malayalam language learning school online, assisting children who grow up away from their homeland to reconnect with their roots. Connect with us to learn more about our courses and curriculum and learn Malayalam with us!