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It's time to sing an ode to the gurus

It is celebrated as a mere reflection of Dr. Radhakrishnan's love and attachment to the teaching profession

PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

SHAPING EM' UP Inspiring students to become good human beings

"Libraries and laboratories cannot be compared to rishis and seers". - Swami Vivekananda.

The quotable quote stands good for all times as the students wait eagerly for September 5 to honour their teachers.

"The Day has a special place in our heart. We wait for one full year to give back something to the people who sweat throughout the year to make us good human beings. We also know that they deserve much more," say Deepika and Rohit, high school students of a private school and the inference is about the Teachers' Day.

The Day is dedicated to the former president of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was also a teacher and renowned educationist.

It is celebrated as a mere reflection of his love and attachment to the teaching profession. As a matter of fact, Dr. Radhakrishnan himself asked his admirers to celebrate his birthday not as his birthday but as the teacher's day.

Role of teacher

Since time immemorial, gurus or teachers were considered as dispellers of darkness. "A perfect teacher is a combination of giver of knowledge and a moulder. He is a pathfinder and a bridge between the finite and the infinite. The role of a teacher is not only to enlighten the students but pass on sufficient knowledge for overall personality development," says the former Rector of Andhra University, A. Prasanna Kumar.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Nagarjuna University, B. Sarveswar Rao, further adds, "A teacher should be able to build a man or a woman to a good human being."Prof. Sarveswar Rao is one among the few surviving persons to have directly studied under the former Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, Dr. Radhakrishnan.

Reminiscing a few fleeting moments with the eminent teacher, he says, "He was an inspirer both for the teaching faculty and the students. Radhakrishnan would always say, `before building an institution first learn to build yourself'.

A teacher should be a role model and Dr. Radhakrishnan played the role perfectly to the finesse.

Teachers are inspirers and people like Radhakrishnan, Hiren Mukherjee, V.S. Krishna and M. Venkatrangaiah inspired a generation."

He vividly remembers how Radhakrishnan was fond of the student debates and how the VC would come unnoticed with his trademark turban and hands tucked into his coat pockets. "He would quietly slip into the debate hall and watch the proceedings from a corner. Dr. Radhakrishna was a great orator and some of his speeches still ring clear in my ears," fondly recollects Prof. Sarveswara Rao.

Tradition of respect

The respect for teachers is an age-old tradition. But does it still prevail in the land that conceived the idea of guru-sishya parampara? "Yes", says B. Parvathi, Professor in the English Department of AU. "Respect is always there but one has to be good enough to earn that. Enthusiasm to learn is still present among the students and it is the duty of the teachers to nurture that," says she.

Happy moments

Like the children, the teachers also eagerly wait for the day. "It's a feel good atmosphere, on that day at the school. It's our day and all of us come dressed in our best to be honoured by the tiny tots and the young minds. At times we are emotionally moved by their speeches," says Sudha, a teacher in a private school.

For the children, it is going to be fun. For a change, the high school students would be donning the role of a teacher and take classes for the younger ones. "I am excited about the event. I am going to teach my favourite subject history to the Std. II students," says an animated Deepika.

Teacher's Day is celebrated in all schools be it a corporate private school or a simple municipal school. While at some places it may be in a grand scale over lunch and cultural programmes at other places it could just done with a flower bouquet. "Whatever and however it may be, ultimately it comes draped with lot of love and respect and that is most important for us," says Sudha.

Earning respects from a student is the greatest reward for a teacher, adds Prof. Prasanna Kuamr.

Florists and greeting card sellers will have a field day as the students would make a beeline at the shops since early morning to carry the best card and the freshest rose to impress their gurus.

SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE

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