Terming the teachers as nation builders, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday declared himself a teacher who does not know how he landed in politics.

"I am basically a teacher. I do not know how I landed in politics," Singh said at a function in Delhi at his residence to felicitate the national award winning teachers on the occasion of Teachers Day.

Terming his teaching days as 'best days' of his life, he said, "Teaching is my first love."

Singh had taught at Punjab University and Delhi School of Economics.

Teaching happens to be a noble profession, Singh said. "You are the nation builders," he said of the teachers.

On the teachers' role in nation building, he said. "Teachers shape the minds of the children who are the future of the nation."

They impart a value system, groom personality of children, he said. "A lot depends on what you teach."

Narrating his days as student, he said, "I came from a poor family and studied at a primary school, which had no roof."

"We have come a long way since those days," he said. Now schools exist everywhere, but we are yet to universalise the primary education, he added.

Expressing concern at high rates of school dropout, Singh said, "We should ensure that none of them leaves without completing the course."

Dwelling on the importance of the Teachers Day, he said, "We salute our teachers on this day and the fundamental values of life which they they teach."

"We are a country of various philosphies and doctrines," he said. "Out of this diversity we have to formulate a policy that takes India on the path of progress."

The role of education is to uphold equity and tolerance, he said. "These are all important in a country like ours, which has diversities, to emerge as a strong nation."

"Our children are our most precious assets and 21st centure will be an Indian century," he said.

"We are destined to play a great role not only in Asia, but throughout the world," he said, and called upon the teachers to play the role of a guide.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said, "Teachers are the basic link between present and future". hey are the architects of the future, he added.