Teachers, The Torch-Bearers of Nations
‘The light of the world, the beacon in the dark and the hope that gives us strength to survive, is the teacher.’
By: Sayima Wani
Teaching is one of the most respectful and valuable professions in the world and Teachers are the most significant pillars of the world. A teacher is a nation builder who inspires, guides, enlightens, motivates and makes the world a better place. Teacher is the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance. A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart. A teacher has the potential to transform an immature child to a mature and sensible human being. A teacher is not just a teacher but a motivator, a guide, a friend and above all a source of knowledge prosperity and enlightenment. Teacher not only shapes the future of the students but also plays a great role in shaping their minds besides helping a student to climb the ladder of success.
We cannot underestimate the importance of teachers in building the futures of nations. Once Barack Obama in a campaign speech said, ‘If you were successful somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life’. Without teacher it is impossible to have great lawyers, doctors, bureaucrats, astronauts and scientists. In other words, teaching is the profession that educates all the other professions. As Dr Abdul Kalam once said, “I believe there is no other profession in the world that is more important to society than that of a teacher.” Teachers help us in building our character and shaping our personalities thus makes us true human beings.
Teachers Day is celebrated on 5th of September every year in India while, the rest of the world celebrates it on 5th October. In India the date is chosen in commemoration of one of the greatest educationist and scholar of the nation – Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan . He was first Vice-President and the 2nd President of India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1964 and in his memory the University of Oxford instituted the Radhakrishnan Chevening scholarships and the Radhakrishnan Memorial Award. In 1954 he received Order pour le Merite for Arts and Science and in 1961 the Peace Prize of the book German Book Trade.
According to Dr Radhakrishnan, “teachers should be the best minds in the country”. 5th of September is marked by the birth anniversary of Dr Radhakrishnan. His birthday came to be celebrated as Teachers Day when some of his students requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday but in reply, he said that ”instead of celebrating my birthday separately it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers Day” to tribute the whole teaching profession.
Teachers are our second parents. They play a very pivotal and influential role in our lives. Parents only give birth to a child then it is the teacher who moulds the child’s personality and provides a bright future. For a student a teacher is his or her role model. A student tries to imitate his teacher and wants to be like his or her teacher. Hence, every individual is an enlarged replica of their teachers. Teachers help us during hard times they teach us how to tackle the problems in life. Truly teachers are the angels in disguise.
In all religion teachers are considered as the most honoured persons. Once Hazrat Ali (RA) said “if a person teaches me one single word, he has made me his servant for a lifetime”. Teachers care for their students just like parents do sometimes they are little harsh just because their students can stay away from the things which are detrimental to their career. It is necessary for teachers to be honest not discriminate or favor one student over another. So it is the responsibility of a teacher to ensure fairness in his dealings with students. Teachers have a tremendous ability they can turn a piece of coal into diamond. As said by Malala Yousafzai “one child one teacher one book one pen can change the world”.
This day is very important and special for teachers as well as for students. This day is celebrated as a special event in schools and colleges in different ways and students on this auspicious occasion give gifts to their teachers to make them feel their work is appreciated and their noble profession is respected. We all should always respect and appreciate our teachers for their selfless work. I would like to extend my gratitude and respect to all the teachers out there who have helped us directly or indirectly in lifting us up, creating better versions of ourselves and most of all, helping us grow. Someone has beautifully said that, “A teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others.”
The Writer is a B.Sc Nursing student at AIHST Srinagar. Email: [email protected]
Kashmir Images is an English language daily newspaper published from Srinagar (J&K), India. The newspaper is one of the largest circulated English dailies of Kashmir and its hard copies reach every nook and corner of Kashmir Valley besides Jammu and Ladakh region.
