September 5 holds significance in India and around the world for several historical events, important births and notable deaths. In India, the date is best known as Teachers’ Day, observed every year to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the country’s second President and a renowned philosopher and educationist.
According to the Gregorian calendar, September 5 is the 248th day of the year, while in a leap year it is the 249th. There are 117 days remaining in the year after September 5.
Major historical events on September 5
Several important developments have taken place on this date over the centuries.
In 1666, the Great Fire of London, which had begun days earlier, came to an end after destroying a large part of the city. Thousands of buildings were affected during the disaster.
In 1798, France introduced compulsory military service under a law associated with the country's military mobilisation during the Revolutionary period.
In 1836, Sam Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas.
In 1839, the First Opium War began after escalating tensions between Britain and Qing China over the opium trade and related disputes.
One of the darkest events associated with September 5 occurred during the 1972 Munich Olympics. Members of the Palestinian group Black September entered the Olympic Village, killed two members of the Israeli delegation and took nine others hostage. The remaining hostages were later killed during a failed rescue operation.
In 1991, Nelson Mandela was elected president of the African National Congress (ANC), marking an important phase in South Africa's political transition.
In 1997, the International Olympic Committee selected Athens as the host city for the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Other notable events
The date has also been associated with several political, sporting and international developments.
In 2002, an assassination attempt was made against Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit to Kandahar. He survived the attack.
In 2005, Mandala Airlines Flight 091 crashed shortly after takeoff in Medan, Indonesia, killing people aboard the aircraft as well as people on the ground.
In 2008, a delegation from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers met then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The delegation was led by industrialist Ratan Tata.
In 2014, the World Health Organization reported the continuing impact of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, with Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone among the affected countries.
Notable people born on September 5
September 5 has also marked the birth anniversaries of several notable Indians.
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, born on September 5, 1888, was a philosopher, scholar, educationist and statesman who became India's second President. His birth anniversary is observed as Teachers’ Day in India.
Other notable personalities born on this date include Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha, born in 1986, and Indian para-athlete Ajit Singh Yadav, born in 1993.
Indian cardiologist K.K. Aggarwal, novelist Vachaspati Pathak and former Indian Navy chief Laxminarayan Ramdas, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, were also born on September 5.
Famous personalities who died on September 5
The date is also remembered for the deaths of several prominent personalities.
Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997. The Catholic nun and humanitarian, who founded the Missionaries of Charity, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
Indian music composer Salil Chowdhury, known for his work in Hindi and other Indian-language cinema, died in 1995.
Neerja Bhanot, the Indian flight attendant who was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for her courage during the 1986 Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking, also died on September 5, 1986.
Other notable names associated with the date include politician and jurist R.D. Bhandare, educationist and Hindi literary figure Ambika Prasad Divya, satirist Sharad Joshi and industrialist Ratanji Tata.
Why September 5 is Teachers’ Day in India
The most prominent annual observance on September 5 in India is Teachers’ Day. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was born on September 5, 1888. India has observed Teachers’ Day on this date since 1962.
Radhakrishnan was a distinguished philosopher and educationist before serving as India's first Vice-President and later second President. His contribution to education and scholarship made his birth anniversary an occasion to recognise the role of teachers in shaping students and society.
Schools, colleges and educational institutions across India traditionally mark the occasion through cultural programmes, speeches, student-led activities and appreciation ceremonies. Teachers’ Day 2026 falls on Saturday, September 5.
