It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge, says Albert Einstein, the renowned scientist and Nobel Laureate. Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is of the opinion that ‘technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.’ Rightly so.
The teacher plays the most crucial role in making and shaping the life of every student. Undoubtedly, whenever and wherever we find a society and finally a country that is developing in a qualitative manner, it is primarily because of the contribution of thousands of teachers who have been assiduously involved in teaching and guiding their students with the sole goal of producing millions of good citizens.
It is truer in the present time of AI
(Artificial Intelligence), social media, online classes and fast expanding
digital and technological accessibility. Obviously, it is a big challenge
for every teacher to manage this change amid growing expectations of students
and parents.
In his famous book, "Wings of Fire” our former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam narrates beautifully his experiences about his early formative day teacher. He writes, “Once I settled down at the Schwartz High School, Ramanathapuram, the enthusiastic 15-year-old within me re-emerged. My teacher, Iyadurai Soloman, was an ideal guide for an eager young mind that was yet uncertain of the possibilities and alternatives that lay before it. He made his students feel very comfortable in class with his warm and open-minded attitude. During my stay at Ramanathapuram, my relationship with him grew beyond that of teacher and pupil. In his company, I learnt that one could exercise enormous influence over the events of one’s own life. He (Solomon) instilled in all the children a sense of their own worth. Solomon raised my self-esteem to a high point and convinced me, the son of parents who had not had the benefits of education, that I too could aspire to become whatever I wished. By the time I completed my education at Schwartz, I was a self-confident boy determined to succeed."
Maybe that was the
reason William Arthur Ward asserted, “The mediocre teacher tells; the good
teacher explains; the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher
inspires.”
The important place of a teacher in everyone's life
was emphasised nicely and forcefully by the great mystic poet, philosopher and
saint, Kabir Das through a Hindi couplet, ‘Guru Govind Dou Khade, Kako Lagun
Paanw; Balihari Guru Aapne Jo Govind Diyo Batay’ which means ‘when both the
teacher (Guru) and the God (Govind) are standing before me, whose feet should I
touch first; I bow to you my teacher for telling me about the God.’
Now, let me share with you a very inspiring
real life short story of Alexander the Great and his renowned teacher,
Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and polymath. In the course of a journey both
Alexander and Aristotle found a river to be crossed to reach the other side,
but none of them had any idea how deep the river was. As such, there was risk
in crossing it. Aristotle marched forward to cross the river first, but
Alexander stopped him and insisted instead to let him cross first with his
extremely touching and inspiring argument. He (Alexander) said, “You are my
teacher and I am your student. Even though I die, you can produce hundreds of
Alexanders, but if you die, I can't produce another Aristotle.” It filled
Aristotle with unbounded pride and made him speechless. That was the level of
respect for the teacher. That might be the reason for Alexander's expression of
his feeling in these words, "I am indebted to my father for living, but to
my teacher for living well."
Today is the birth anniversary of a great teacher, philosopher and statesman, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice President of India and the second President of the Indian Union. We celebrate his birthday as Teachers’ Day (5th September) in our country. Whatever little has been discussed on this occasion will prove worthwhile only if we heartily salute such good teachers and bless all such promising students who are still in large numbers in our society. This day also provides us with an opportunity to introspect, ponder and act appropriately both individually and collectively either as a teacher or a student or a common citizen to make our country illiteracy-free and wisdom-rich and thereby fulfil the dream of Dr. Radhakrishnan as he used to say, "The end-product of education should be a free creative man, who can battle against historical circumstances and adversities of nature."
As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, I request you to post your comments to share your valuable opinion. (hellomilansinha@gmail.com)
# Published in "Morning India" newspaper. # Click here to enjoy my Blog in Hindi, "Chalte, Chalte" (चलते, चलते)