Patna: Patna University felicitated serving and erstwhile faculty on Wednesday to mark Teachers' Day, where old-timers recalled the healthy relationship between students and teachers during their times that had led to the varsity being called the Oxford of the east.

PU vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh reminded teachers about their crucial responsibility to educate the future generations. "The duty of teachers became even bigger because of the transition in their role from educating to now empowering the students, so they can make remarkable contributions to the nation," he added.

Ramjee Singh (90), former MP and vice-chancellor of Jain Vishva Bharati University, said: "The first Vice-President of India (Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birthday is celebrated as Teacher's Day) was a great philosopher and statesman whose knowledge about Indian philosophy was praised across the borders. The dictator Joseph Stalin often met him several times with great respect owing to his reputation as an educationist and expertise on Indian philosophy."

Former Patna Women's College principal Doris D' Souza said she wished that Patna University achieves an A grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.