Br Anush P D’Cunha
Mangaluru, Sep 5: “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers’ Day.” He gave this suggestion to his students who insisted on celebrating his birthday. Hence, since 1962, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday has since been celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India.
As we celebrate the Teachers’ Day today, it is also an apt occasion to introspect and see what the important tasks of teachers are today in the 21 Century. Reminding ourselves what Swami Vivekanada said, “The Guru is the conveyance in which the spiritual influence is brought to you. Anyone can teach, but the spirit must be passed on by the Guru to the Shishya (disciple), and that will fructify.”
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
The dominant approach to compulsory education under Right to Education Act of 2009 entails a transformative and reformative move in the 21st century. The important task of teachers therefore has been always shaping the minds of the younger generation. ‘Shaping the younger minds’ is coupled with a great task of instilling in students a scientific and humanistic attitude and temper. Consequently the teachers’ role in the 21st century is that of self-disciplined than merely an instructor. The young minds find thus an inspiring person in his/her teacher.
Having involved myself in teaching in schools and colleges I have realized that teaching the syllabus is the easiest thing that a teacher can do. The greatest challenge today for teachers is to convince the wards in their care with certain values, making them fit to enter the great society and become great citizens. Children spend their precious time of childhood in the school. Therefore the noble task is to make the children instruments to develop an integrated nation out of our diversity. At this era of ideologies which entrench the minds of young, the duty of teachers becomes more demanding than ever.
One day in a classroom I asked my students to imagine themselves ten years from 2018. I left them in a quiet situation for about five minutes. The sharing that followed reminded me of my duties as their teacher. It is obvious that the students of today will be shouldering national responsibilities ten years from now. It is therefore our duty to give them a sense of national loyalty and responsibility. Diverse ideas of modern India have enthused the younger minds today to grow in the negativity that weakens them. Eliminating such ideas and strengthening them with what is good is the task of the teachers today. In this regard a teacher becomes not only an educator but a mentor and a guide, as Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan says, “The end-product of education should be a free creative man, who can battle against historical circumstances and adversities of nature.”
Hats off to all the teachers for being epitome of knowledge and contributing immensely in building a great nation. You are,
Talented person
Explaining so patiently
Ability to make the class an ocean of knowledge
Correcting the pupils when they are wrong
Helping them in every way
Encouraging them to give the best
Rare, there is none like you!
Happy Teachers’ Day
Br Anush P D’Cunha