Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Teacher and god

This refers to the report "Disrespectful student behaviour deplorable, says Manmohan" (Sept. 5). While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's expression of grief over the death of Professor H.S. Sabharwal in Ujjain after being beaten up by some students is welcome, I beg to differ with his statement exhorting students to chant Acharya Devo Bhava (teacher is god) on Teachers' Day.

The concept is feudal, irrational, and against the spirit of critical inquiry. One can respect a teacher even without accepting him or her as god. Teachers are as human as others.

Chaman Lal,
New Delhi

True, we have a tradition of respecting teachers as god. But in the modern materialistic age who has the time and inclination to observe the philosophy? Even our education system is materialistic. The very essence of knowledge has been eroded. It is no longer sacred or value-based. The purpose of education is to obtain a degree that will serve as a gateway to a fat-salaried job.

Prabha Muthukrishnan,
Bangalore

Times have changed. Teachers and students no longer enjoy the rapport they used to in the past. We have seen media reports of teachers beating children mercilessly, even harming them permanently at times. Teachers' Day does not evoke the kind of reverence it used to any more.

Ramya Ganesh,
Bangalore

Professor Sabharwal's death vividly demonstrates the decline in moral values and rampant indiscipline among students. There can be no justification for raising the hand against one's own teacher, let alone assault him. By interfering in college campuses, political parties contribute to the unruly behaviour and aggressiveness of students against teachers and the establishment. The Prime Minister has made a timely call to all to preach, practise, and popularise the statement Acharya Devo Bhava.

M.V. Devraj,
Bangalore

Professor Sabharwal's death is most disturbing. But far more disturbing is our role when we confront similar situations. If only a handful of onlookers had taken courage to stop the students, a national shame could have been avoided.

Rashid Ghani Khan,
Aligarh, U.P.

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