Guiding Lights: Celebrating Our Teachers
The celebrations surrounding ‘World teacher’s day’ 2024 remind us of the interwoven relationships between educators, students, and the broader community
By Colonel Satish Singh Lalotra
TEACHERS’ DAY
The end product of education should be a free creative man, whocan battle against historical circumstances and adversaries of nature. Who else can sublimate these fine ideas on education than our ex-president late Dr Sarveapalli Radhakrishnan, a living apostle of carrying the standard of emancipation of humanity based on the above stated tenet. Education is that master key which has within itself that insurmountable capacity to unlock the worst of Gordian knots that afflict the human civilization viz poverty, illiteracy, ignorance & obscurantism/ obduracy to name a few. Indian mythological treatises are full of such guiding lights (read teachers) that had carved a niche for themselves on the anvil of their teaching prowess, unequivocal commitment to their professional duties of a teacher and accordingly measured each and every student as per his scholastic cum holistic achievements of which the former quality was the part of the latter.
What greater pedestal could a man be seated than that of a ‘Guru’ or teacher which the Hindu religion emphasized upon? The fact that the Hindu religion / texts placed ‘Brahmacharya’ (student life) as the ‘Paragon’ of all stages of ‘Asrama life vis-à-vis ‘Grhasta’ (householder), ‘Vanaprastha (forest dweller) and ‘Sannyasa (renunciation) goes to prove that the Guru/ teacher was at much more exalted position as compared to even the parents of a student/ disciple who had to leave him at the Ashram to learn the initial ropes of life. This aspect eclipsed the parent’s role to that of a subsidiary one in their ward’s life only to begin their parenting of their child who had by now already chiseled into perfection by his Guru.
The greatest of Gurus which comes to mind is that of ‘Guru Dronaacharya’ of the Mahabharata fame who had reserved equal attention for his disciples irrespective of his personal leanings towards the ‘Kaurvas’. Again can anybody forget the irresistible bond that was forged between the legendary Guru Dronaacharya’ and an equally intrepid disciple ‘Eklavya’ though putting his own image of a Guru under an ethical scanner by not accepting the latter as his disciple owing to his low birth origins? The heights of professional Excellency which Eklavya carved out for himself didn’t have the slightest of tinge bordering on revenge taking against his purported Guru. This is what is known as the personification of an ideal Guru-sishya parampara (tradition).
This year teacher’s day in India is being celebrated on 05th of September as has been the wont for the past so many decades to no end. It also signifies the unique role which our exalted second president Dr S Radhakrishnan had in promoting education as a facilitator for the ‘Resurgence of India’.
As a part of extraordinary legacy, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan himself suggested to his own students, admirers etc to dedicate his date of birth of 05th September every year to the teaching fraternity and be marked as ‘Teacher’s day’ on his taking over the reins of the first citizen of India in 1962. Since each such iconic day is backed by an equally iconic thinking process cum theme, hence this year’s teacher’s day of 2024 has the theme –Empowering educators: strengthening resilience, building sustainability’. Dr Radhakrishnan being a thinker, philosopher , guide, teacher and an able administrator par excellence believed in taking the first step himself as a lead manager to manage his state of affairs and hence did the beginning by firstly dedicating his date of birth to the noble profession from which he himself drew inspiration i.e. the teachers and secondly dedicated the iconic ‘Vice regal lodge’ that doubled up as a summer retreat of the viceroys of India at Shimla into the equally famous center for higher learning by way of establishing the IIAS( Indian institute of advanced studies) in 1964/65.
Since teachers play an important part in our lives, it is impossible to adequately compensate their contribution in shaping us up to take on the world in our professional lives. There are dime a dozen ways to celebrate teacher’s day, with each way signaling the teaching fraternity our unequivocal support and unwavering commitment to their cause. Some of us may express our gratitude by writing a letter to them to show how much we value their mentoring and constant support in making us what we are today. Thoughtful tokens demonstrate our gratitude by presenting our teachers with small items like flowers or a meaningful book. Volunteerism is another way to accord our unstinting help and appreciation by way of participating in our child’s school activities by lending a helping hand in the classroom or time and expertise to the teachers.
Supporting the cause of education by donating to scholarship funds that support future teachers in the pursuit of their goals help shape up the educational landscape in the process. Raising awareness is another way via social media to spread inspirational tales and stories about educators. Since this year’s theme of 2024 teacher’s day calls for‘empowering educators: strengthening resilience, buildingsustainability’ it seems the theme focuses on the inherent strength of the teachers to be built so as to empower them in all respects. But the moot question over here is, are we building or empowering the teaching fraternity in all its sincerity? I have my doubts how do you build resilience and sustainability in these educators without even looking after their basics of their empowerment?
With education under the concurrent list as per the 42nd amendment as also both the states and the center having equal jurisdiction to set laws and implement them with regard to this and setting in of the NEP (New Education Policy) 2020 there seems to be lot of dichotomy mainly pertaining to professional development, use of technology and career advancement opportunities. The biggest bug bear being the non-standardization of the salary structure across India to ensure fair and equitable pay. This further gets accentuated in schools that are privately run vis –a-vis the government schools.
Since ‘Money makes the mare go’ how can a simple non equitable pay structure in the same district or state of teachers belonging to the private sector or government run schools instill empowerment? There have been cases even as on today where the monetary benefits accruing out of 6th pay commission have not been dispensed away to the teachers, leave alone the benefits of the 7th pay commission. Conversely in the western world the teaching fraternity is one of the best paid workforces that translate the good intent of these western countries to make this noble profession one of the most sought after.
The importance of educators has not been lost on the world bodies like the UNESCO and the ILO too. Exactly a month after India celebrates its Teacher’s day, on 05th October every year ‘World teacher’s day’ is celebrated. As per the world bodies of UNESCO & ILO, in the tapestry of life few threads shine as brilliantly as those of educators. And hence this tapestry ought to be maintained at its shining best. Established in the year 1994, it honors the signing of the 1966 UNESO/ILO recommendations. This document sets the benchmarks for teacher’s rights and conditions worldwide. Various initiatives mark ‘World teacher’s day’. From seminars, online webinars to ground level workshops, the day is bustling with activities. The global community converges, discussing challenges and solutions, all centered around the upliftment of the teaching community.
The celebrations surrounding ‘World teacher’s day’ 2024 remind us of the interwoven relationships between educators, students, and the broader community. It’s an echo of a larger truth –our future is sculpted by teachers. ‘World teacher’s day’ is a gentle reminder of the significant impact educators have on society. Same is the case in our context while we celebrate teacher’s day on 05th September. Let’s carry forward the spirit, ensuring every day is a day of gratitude, of learning and of growth.
(The writer is a retired army officer and a regular scribe of RK & can be approached on his email: slalotra4729@gmail.com)
