Teachers: Now & Then

This post has been published by me on the occasion of the Teachers' Day as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 2; the second edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Teachers mould the lives that they influence. Lessons learned from teachers remain with their students throughout life. Teachers that break down barriers and reach into the souls of the students that they are responsible for do not get the recognition or gratitude they have earned. Many teachers are exhausted from their workload and responsibilities. They have their own families, financial and life stresses that challenge them along with everyone else. We should always respect our teachers. Teachers need encouragement and support from the community to feel that their devotion to students is appreciated.

Socrates was an example of a good teacher. He considered himself a learner as well as a teacher. For Socrates, love and friendship were the proper contexts for the pursuit of wisdom and goodness. Socrates saw himself only as a catalyst. He felt it was not his teaching, but actually the power of the Divine which enabled the person he was talking with to improve himself.

In India 5th September is celebrated as Teachers' day. 5th September is the birthday of a great teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the president of India in 1962, some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate 5th September, his "birthday". In reply, Dr, Radhakrishnan said, "instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers' day". The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan's love for the teaching profession. From then onwards, the day has been observed as Teachers' Day in India.

This is how we have come know of how teacher’s day is celebrated in India. Now for the topic of Teachers: Now & Then.

I would like to take up the example of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. To me, I consider him as one of the best Presidents and Teachers of India. It is an honour for us to possess such a great personality to support and encourage us into the New India which we all dream of. This dream can only be fulfilled if we have the right type of Teachers to guide us.

It is said that on an average a student spends upto 25,000 hours in his life till 10+2. The lives of the students are more influenced by the teachers and the school environment. Therefore, the school must have the best of teachers with ability to, teach and love teaching and build moral qualities. Teachers should become role models. Similarly, the student must be alert to build himself with best of qualities and to get ignited with a vision for his or her future life.

Teachers are different when time goes on. Dr. Kalam said that he had three different teachers who thought him three different things in life which made him what he is today. First, being his father who taught him moral value system which needs to followed throughout his life. Secondly, the teacher who became his role model by showing how a bird flies both theoretically and practically. This made him shape up his profession and this was his inspiration for his profession as a rocket scientist. Finally, his professor in college who made him understand his creative professional capability which led to building confidence and will power to make a design, to make a product, to make a system to overcome the problems faced in it which led him to greater heights in his life.

This above note shows us how the teachers can mould the life of an individual and bring about a change in the environment and society as a whole. This was role of teachers, then.

Now, as we have all experienced teachers still make quiet a lot of influence on us like Dr. Abdul Kalam. I remember some of my very own teachers who could never be forgotten in my life. Mrs. Mangalam Ma’am was a very strict teacher. I still remember my ears paining for days after that one twist which she gives us if we had done a mistake. I used to cry and crib about it, but I realized that if hadn’t I got that twist, I would have never gotten myself interested and involved in her subject MATHS which is considered to be the most important subject. If it hadn’t been for her I wouldn’t have learnt it better.

Then there was Miss. Mahalakshmi, my commerce & accounts teacher who would never pay attention to me. I loved her teaching and would envy my friends who all get her attention. I wanted to score high in my exams and prove it to her that I was capable of anything no matter how difficult it was. This was my first step towards hard work and dedication. So even though there are teachers now who influence us in a way by making us stronger for the outside world. Not only does the student learn, but the teacher shapes his life with great dreams and aims.

I also learnt from my PT teacher Miss. Shanti Ma’am who taught me the courage to stand up to something right. She taught me that boys are not the ones who are always right and girls also have the right to stand up and fight. So there are a lot of teachers who influenced us to become a better person.

Among us there are a lot of people who teach us how to live and love and experience who are also considered as teachers for life. Eventhough, we are in a fast paced life, we should take the time out to go and visit the people who taught us the first things in life. It gives them the sense of satisfaction that no money can buy. Finally I would like to quote Dr. Kalam words,” Every one of us in this planet creates a page in human history irrespective of who he/she is. I realize my experience is a small dot in human life, but that dot has a life and light. This light, let it light many lamps.”

I dedicate this post to all my teachers who have been so supportive of me and made me what I’m today. Thanking you all for your kind guidance through my thick and thin. Happy Teachers Day. Jai Hind.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton are Vipul, Dhiman, Ranee[1], [2], [3] , Avada, Indian Pundit, Sojo, Aneet, Pramathesh, Aativas, Sid, Pra, Ajinkya, Lakshmi, Govind, Shilpa, Bharathi, Shankar, Mytuppence, Azad, Pawan, Pankaja, Saimanohar, Guria, Shruti, Vishnu,Nasrajan and Richa. Click on their respective names to read their posts on Teachers : Aaj Kal. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.