<P> One of India's most distinguished twentieth - century scholars of comparative religion and philosophy, his academic appointments included professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore (1918 - 1921), the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta (1921--1932) and Spalding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at University of Oxford (1936--1952). </P> <P> His philosophy was grounded in Advaita Vedanta, reinterpreting this tradition for a contemporary understanding . He defended Hinduism against "uninformed Western criticism", contributing to the formation of contemporary Hindu identity . He has been influential in shaping the understanding of Hinduism, in both India and the west, and earned a reputation as a bridge - builder between India and the West . </P> <P> Radhakrishnan was awarded several high awards during his life, including a knighthood in 1931, the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 1954, and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963 . He was also one of the founders of Helpage India, a non profit organisation for elderly underprivileged in India . Radhakrishnan believed that "teachers should be the best minds in the country". Since 1962, his birthday is being celebrated in India as Teachers' Day on 5 September . </P> <P> Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born in a Telugu - speaking Niyogi Brahmin family, in Tiruttani in Madras Presidency . His surname was Sarvepalli, for his forefathers were from Sarvepalli, a village fifteen miles from Nellore town of Andhra Pradesh . His grand father migrated to a village near Tiruttani in erstwhile Chittoor district of the Madras Presidency . His father's name was Sarvepalli Veeraswami and his mother's name was Sarvepalli Sita (Sitamma). His early years were spent in Thiruttani and Tirupati . His father was a subordinate revenue official in the service of a local zamindar (local landlord). His primary education was at K.V High School at Thiruttani . In 1896 he moved to the Hermansburg Evangelical Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati and Government Higher Secondary School, Walajapet . </P>

When is the teachers day celebrated in india