From the the time when we were children - so small that we didn't even understand most of what we were taught - we were taught a certain Sanskrit Shloka, "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu.... Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah...!!" Of course, the meaning was explained to us, but we weren't really able to 'understand' it. Today, I believe most of us understand it, and at least some of us agree with it.
Yes, you've got it right. Next few minutes or so, if you're able to persist, you'll be reading "The Teacher's Day" special. So let me get it on the floor, "Happy Teacher's Day". And it applies to you too, because you need not have 'formally' taught me anything till date. Yet, I'm sure I've learnt from you.
So, Teacher's Day. I'm quite positive that I came in this world, crying. From that moment on, my parents were my first teachers. First thing that they must have done would be to teach me to smile, to laugh! Since then, many people have been my formal teachers, and lot many informal. Most of them made me educated, some of them made me "learned". (No, I'm not a wise-ass. But I'm no dumb-ass either.) They taught me beyond books and grades. They taught me beyond school and classes. They gave me a perspective, which was an untouched territory for me earlier. And isn't this perspective thing quite important in the exam of life? I may learn concepts, facts; but if I'm not really able to put them into a perspective then they may very well resemble a key for which I have no lock to open.
I've been fortunate enough to have learnt from some of these teachers whose name I take with pride till date. Of course, I respect all of the teachers out of the respect for the "institution of teacher". But some things other than blood - they really come from heart, don't they. And I'm proud to say, even today, in my current institute, there are few teachers that have made me awestruck with their knowledge, with their perspective and with their personality. We hesitate to use the word 'perfect' honestly, but I wonder - should I?
I mentioned the "Institution of Teacher". For a few months, when I got an opportunity to formally teach some school children, I got the taste of my own medicine. Suddenly, I was at the opposite side of the court, and I knew the kind of serve coming at me. But, I was not really trained to return it efficiently. Thankfully, I learned in a while, and also the other side felt it needless to throw me such curve-balls. Point is, the respect for this institution has increased many fold in me.
What some of these amazing teachers have taught me is this - where darkness is there, light must be there. Sadly enough, as I write, I would like to reverse this quote. Some "Guru" people today have taken "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu" etc quite seriously these days. The forgotten catch is that, one should feel that about their gurus. The guru himself/herself should not consider it for themselves. And some of their actions - well, I guess devil has his school existing as well. For, these people must be teaching there, really. Right from the "guru" who takes advantage of the blind and unchallenged faith of the common people, to the "guru" who sucks life out of the student instead of inculcating life in him/her. From the "guru" who instead of imprinting knowledge in their students' mind imprints scars and burns on their bodies; to the "guru" who instead of becoming the counselor of the students, necessitates counselor for them. Open the newspaper, tune into the news channels, and you'll see plenty of evidence.
And this is from where the title of my post is inspired from. "Shiksha" in hindi means "Teaching", whereas "Shiksha" in Marathi means "Punishment". And that's a bit of irony. The inadvertent irony. Yet again, as one of the teachers of mine says, you can't change everything overnight. You can hope, and be the best that you can be. That's the light. Again, Happy Teacher's Day...!!!
Yes, you've got it right. Next few minutes or so, if you're able to persist, you'll be reading "The Teacher's Day" special. So let me get it on the floor, "Happy Teacher's Day". And it applies to you too, because you need not have 'formally' taught me anything till date. Yet, I'm sure I've learnt from you.
So, Teacher's Day. I'm quite positive that I came in this world, crying. From that moment on, my parents were my first teachers. First thing that they must have done would be to teach me to smile, to laugh! Since then, many people have been my formal teachers, and lot many informal. Most of them made me educated, some of them made me "learned". (No, I'm not a wise-ass. But I'm no dumb-ass either.) They taught me beyond books and grades. They taught me beyond school and classes. They gave me a perspective, which was an untouched territory for me earlier. And isn't this perspective thing quite important in the exam of life? I may learn concepts, facts; but if I'm not really able to put them into a perspective then they may very well resemble a key for which I have no lock to open.
I've been fortunate enough to have learnt from some of these teachers whose name I take with pride till date. Of course, I respect all of the teachers out of the respect for the "institution of teacher". But some things other than blood - they really come from heart, don't they. And I'm proud to say, even today, in my current institute, there are few teachers that have made me awestruck with their knowledge, with their perspective and with their personality. We hesitate to use the word 'perfect' honestly, but I wonder - should I?
I mentioned the "Institution of Teacher". For a few months, when I got an opportunity to formally teach some school children, I got the taste of my own medicine. Suddenly, I was at the opposite side of the court, and I knew the kind of serve coming at me. But, I was not really trained to return it efficiently. Thankfully, I learned in a while, and also the other side felt it needless to throw me such curve-balls. Point is, the respect for this institution has increased many fold in me.
What some of these amazing teachers have taught me is this - where darkness is there, light must be there. Sadly enough, as I write, I would like to reverse this quote. Some "Guru" people today have taken "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu" etc quite seriously these days. The forgotten catch is that, one should feel that about their gurus. The guru himself/herself should not consider it for themselves. And some of their actions - well, I guess devil has his school existing as well. For, these people must be teaching there, really. Right from the "guru" who takes advantage of the blind and unchallenged faith of the common people, to the "guru" who sucks life out of the student instead of inculcating life in him/her. From the "guru" who instead of imprinting knowledge in their students' mind imprints scars and burns on their bodies; to the "guru" who instead of becoming the counselor of the students, necessitates counselor for them. Open the newspaper, tune into the news channels, and you'll see plenty of evidence.
And this is from where the title of my post is inspired from. "Shiksha" in hindi means "Teaching", whereas "Shiksha" in Marathi means "Punishment". And that's a bit of irony. The inadvertent irony. Yet again, as one of the teachers of mine says, you can't change everything overnight. You can hope, and be the best that you can be. That's the light. Again, Happy Teacher's Day...!!!
Such a delight!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pratiksha..
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