BHU celebrated Teachers’ Day by honoring retired faculty, highlighting academic excellence, decentralized governance, pedagogical innovation, student-centric grievance redressal, social responsibility, research, scholarship, and preservation of institutional legacy.
Banaras Hindu University celebrated Teachers’ Day 2026 with a deep sense of gratitude and respect by honoring its superannuated faculty members on the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The university shares a special bond with Dr Radhakrishnan, who served as the fourth Vice-Chancellor of BHU for more than eight years. His birthday is celebrated as Teachers’ Day across the country. At the celebration held at Swatantrata Bhavan on Saturday, 14 superannuated faculty members present at the programme were felicitated in recognition of their distinguished contributions to the university and the academia. The superannuated teachers received a standing ovation from the faculty members and guests present in the hall. A total of 25 faculty members had superannuated during the academic session 2025–26.
Chairing the Teachers’ Day Celebration, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi noted the contributions of BHU faculty members in the university’s quest to realize Mahamana’s vision. Calling for continuous and combined efforts of the BHU community in further improving the perception of students and other stakeholders about the university, Prof. Chaturvedi listed the areas that would be significantly important in achieving this. The Vice-Chancellor underscored the need to transform the governance mechanism as per the changing needs of time. He spoke about how teaching and pedagogy need to adapt to changing times. He made sharp calls for improving various reforms in the university’s governance structure while emphasizing on the need for innovation in the governance structure, which is more than a century old. As a solution, he stressed on creating a decentralized university structure. Decentralized models, he said, have emerged in new academic institutions. Centralized models are not “scalable” and they create a distance between central and departmental level bodies. A decentralized model will enable more people to be a part of the decision-making process, since it is the departments, faculties, and institutes that make up the university.
Prof. Chaturvedi also stressed on the importance of wisely handling student grievances,and deliberated on various practical aspects of the grievance redressal process. “There is no stakeholder more important for us than the student,” he said. In the last one year, we have been able to address the grievances of students against the University, he said, adding that as a university, we need to do more to earn their trust. He also highlighted how BHU has received immense love and respect from Eastern UP and Western Bihar, a region lagging on various social and economic indicators. He asked if BHU can take up the role of stimulating innovation to create new businesses and bringing socio-cultural change; “Should BHU not realize its responsibility in this regard?” he asked. He ended his address with an appeal to promote merit, excellence, and Indian identity.
Chief Guest Prof. Nageshwar Rao, distinguished academician and Chairman, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), paid tribute to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and highlighted the unique value system of BHU’s teachers. He said BHU faculty have contributed significantly to the nation by nurturing generations of students who have excelled in diverse fields, enhancing the University’s reputation. He suggested documenting BHU’s rich legacy through research and a digital encyclopedia. Prof. Rao urged the academic community to continue upholding BHU’s tradition of excellence, service, scholarship and commitment to society. He emphasized that teachers occupy the highest place in society and play a crucial role in shaping the lives and futures of students. He noted that the contributions of BHU’s faculty and alumni across the country have strengthened the University’s legacy and prestige. He also lauded the spirit of selfless service among the University’s distinguished medical professionals, who devoted their expertise to serving humanity.
Welcoming the distinguished guests and the faculty members, Registrar Sh. Rajan Srivastava said the gathering remembers and honors Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a great personality whose life exemplified the fact that a teacher does not merely impart knowledge but also shapes personalities and provides direction to society. He said that the true contribution of a teacher is reflected not just in books and research papers, but in the lives of their students. The greatest achievement of a good teacher is not that their students remember them, but that the knowledge and values imparted by the teacher inspire students to contribute towards making better society.
Dean of Students Prof. Ranjan Kumar Singh proposed the Vote of Thanks, during which he said that a teacher may retire from service but never from the hearts of students. The programme was coordinated by Dr Siddhidatri Bharadwaj, while Dr Archana Tiwari introduced the Chief Guest to the audiences. Directors of institutes, Deans of faculties, Heads of Departments, teachers, and guests were present on the occasion.
