N Krocha
Chekiye Village
Teacher’s day is here again. Our local dailies will be flooded with Teacher’s day greetings/messages. A vast majority if not 100% of these messages will be in praise or honour of their dear teachers. I can’t help feeling jealous of the lucky souls who have had the opportunity to be inspired by their idols. I went through my list of teachers whom I’ll credit for making me who I am today. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone who deserves to bestow the title with. I wish to however thank my teachers for imparting me with knowledge and wisdom.
Every 5th September, Teacher’s day is celebrated all over the country to commemorate the birthday of India’s first Vice President. Dr S Radhakrishnan was an acclaimed educationist and scholar well known throughout the world, a renowned teacher across various universities, a well-known diplomat and philosopher. He is the person where every teacher should aspire to emulate. Our late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was another great teacher who gave his everything for his countrymen.
Teacher’s day bring pleasant memories of celebrating it with joy and gaiety. Come rain or sun, we’d make procession and scream on top of our voices, “No Teachers, No Progress, Long Life teachers, Teachers are the backbone of the Nation, Happy Teachers day etc. This teacher’s day, I wish to reflect on the following; Is teaching losing its shine today? Do we have any teachers who follow the example of the two great teachers mentioned? Do we get teachers who wanted to be teachers? Do teachers take their job as a last resort or a part-time activity before landing a lucrative job? Knowing the role and importance of great teachers in the lives of young minds are the teachers today doing justice to the enormous job of being a role model, guide and mentor? Is there anyone else, who is yet to find a great teacher who would credit what they are today? What example are we setting to our children when we keep proxy teachers? When teachers are revered in many parts of the world and considered the noblest profession, what is the state of affairs in our state? And my list of questions goes on and on.......
My salute goes to all the teachers who become teachers because they want to teach and be the difference in the lives of many, to those who walk the extra mile and lead exemplary lives, to all those who sweat and struggle, attend their duties without being paid, who shoulder the responsible of being the foster parent, and to those who take teaching as their calling. You deserve every piece of praise and accolade. Have a fantastic and well-deserved teacher’s day.
And those proxy teachers; selling jobs and ruining the lives of many, you are a curse to the society. May the Lord reward you justly on the judgment day. Every 05th September, you should chain yourself inside your home and never dare step out of it. I hope that this teacher’s day, your mind will be awakened to the wrongdoing, take corrective action, transform yourself and do justice before it is too late. Let not the future generation curse you for what you did today.
