NewsQ4, Educate, Engage, Empower

Can One Teacher Change The World!

Date of Publish - Tuesday, 5th September 2017

Wisdom from Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to make a New India

On Independence Day 15 August 2017 Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi called on people to demonstrate greater civic responsibility. It is at this point how teachers can inculcate civic responsibility to the student community; helping them discharge civic duties to kick start a New India as envisioned by the PM.

The nation remembers Bharat Ratna S. Radhakrishnan on September 5, observed as Teacher's Day in India. As the student community needs guidance and mentoring to make a vibrant nation the parent community and the government looks upon teachers to create responsible students, talented students where gurus (teachers) play a crucial role in the holistic development of students. Throughout ages the nation had a rich tradition giving respect to gurus. According to the Advayataraka Upanishad, The Sanskrit word Guru has a vast meaning. The syllable 'Gu' is darkness and the syllable 'Ru' is light when we join these two syllables the term Guru gets an excellent meaning that is one who dispels darkness.

Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Saakshat Para Brahma Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha

Bharata Ratna Dr.Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was called by the nation as ‘Guru’ because he is an Advaita Vedantist Philosopher, a visionary teacher, and a renowned diplomat who held the highest office as President.

Since 1962, India has been celebrating September 5th as Teacher’s Day as that day commemorates the birthday of our Guru, Dr. Sarvepalli RadhaKrishnan.

Importance of Teacher’s Day

Put it simply one teacher can change the world. Famous writers, researchers stated that everybody needs at least one teacher, in today’s context a mentor in their life to change their lives. A teacher has a platform to change the students’ lives by integrating learning with the traditional values of our great nation. As knowledge without character is dangerous the onus is upon the teachers to be a catalyst in the character building of the students where their skills and ethics contribute nation’s growth. Let us celebrate Teacher’s Day on 5 September to follow the example set by the great visionary Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

"One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution." - Malala Yousafzai

Radhakrishnan’s views on Education and Teacher In Radhakrishnan’s opinion, a teacher is a person who lays the foundation for the future progressive society. The teacher dedicates their work and sculpts the students as civilized citizens having a civic responsibility. PM said during Independence Day speech, “India is about shanti (peace), ekta (unity) and sadbhavana (harmony).” Dr. Servapally Radhakrishnan observed, “Students should not be a horse without the bridle.” Therefore, it is the responsibility of the teachers who are foundation stones to construct a New India on the ideals set by the great soul.

Teacher A Resource Provider

Dr. Radhakrishnan has rightly found the role of the teacher as a resource provider. It is the duty of the teacher/university professors to identify the skill gaps by surveying in the industries on the vocational skill requirements across sectors be it micro skill requirements, macro skill requirements taking guidance from Prime Minister’s Skilling India and impart life skills as well as vocational skills to the students. If the teacher guides the students by providing the key findings on vocational skill and life skill requirements it helps students to practice by self-efforts or by asking help from experienced people within their circles to be ready for meeting industry challenges. But providing creative thoughts and innovative instructions, and linking with the right bodies should be the responsibility of the teachers. This will help Prime Ministers call to make a Better India, a New India by 2022.

Motivation through Story Telling

Motivation plays a crucial role in the student learning. But students cannot be motivated easily. But interesting stories presented in an appealing way can trigger management wisdom in students. Then there should be goal setting. First of all the teacher should have an idea on talent spotting or gauging the intellectual leanings of the student. After identifying them the teacher should direct the student towards a particular goal with motivation. Then comes constant mentoring and directing to a vocation according to the liking of the student. With mentor’s
help, a student can increase his/her effort and energy. Constant motivation enhances the cognitive skills of the students. Teachers, are you motivating or demotivating your wards? The overall development of any child which he received from the teacher leads to his improved performance.

Vision Casting

Students have vague ideas on path finding. Here the teacher steps in as a role model. The behavior of any student depends on the vision of a teacher. Role modeling is all about making students excel in life skills, vision, civic responsibility, contribution towards GDP growth, be partakers of Skill India, Better India, and a New India.

Team Work and Goal

Teamwork is a life skill. Before ready for employment they should understand going solo yield little result whereas working in teams where talent and culture fit plays a key role to excel in career. The teacher should motivate the students for team work in their extracurricular activity and make them fit for tomorrow’s corporate culture. It is the duty of the teacher to guide the students to create their own future as entrepreneurs, executives, or social workers. Before concluding, let us take an illustration from Sant Kabir Guru Govind dono khade kake lagu paay Balihari Guru Aapki Govind Diyo Batay.

Sant Kabir wrote these verses while speaking about the glory of Guru. In his poem, he explains that without the teacher’s help no one can achieve their goals. He asks, "If both, Guru and God appear at the door, whose feet will I have to worship first?" He answers, “It has to be the Guru’s feet first, because without him, how would I know about the God.

So the role of a teacher is higher than God. One teacher can change the world. That is why exactly we need to celebrate 5th September as “Teachers Day” to create Effective Teachers in the manner management guru Peter F. Drucker envisioned Effective Executives to make a New India. For that teacher should make a sincere effort.

"Happy Teachers Day"