Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday announced that teachers across the state can use the prefix ‘Tr’ before their names as a mark of respect for their contribution to society. The announcement was made on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.
‘Tr’ to recognise teachers’ contribution
Shivakumar said the new prefix would serve as a distinct mark of recognition for teachers, similar to professional prefixes such as ‘Dr’ for medical doctors, ‘Er’ for engineers and ‘Prof’ for professors.
He said teachers play a crucial role in shaping individuals and, in turn, the nation. According to Shivakumar, India has more than one crore teachers, including nearly 4.5 lakh teachers in Karnataka, who contribute every day to the education, character-building and future of children.
“On this Teachers’ Day, the Government of Karnataka has decided to honour this invaluable contribution with a distinct mark of respect. From today, teachers of Karnataka can proudly use the prefix ‘Tr’ before their names,” he said in a post on X.
Shivakumar calls teachers nation-builders
The Chief Minister said the contribution of teachers extends far beyond classrooms and academic instruction.
He noted that doctors, engineers, farmers, government officers, entrepreneurs and political leaders all had teachers who recognised their potential and helped them understand what they could achieve.
“A teacher builds every person who goes on to build the nation,” Shivakumar said, underlining the wider social role played by educators.
He described the new prefix as a symbol of the service rendered by teachers throughout their careers.
Prefix described as a mark of respect
Shivakumar said ‘Tr’ should not be viewed merely as a professional title but as a representation of society’s gratitude towards teachers.
According to him, teachers spend their careers guiding, correcting and encouraging students while helping them develop confidence and a sense of purpose.
He said the prefix was a recognition that teachers had genuinely earned through their contribution to society.
“A society that honours its teachers honours its own future,” he said, while expressing gratitude to educators for their role in guiding generations of students.
The announcement comes as teachers are being celebrated across the country on Teachers’ Day, observed annually on September 5 to commemorate the birth anniversary of former President and philosopher Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.