Homage to teachers
Good teachers impact not for a brief moment but for a lifetime. In memory of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice President and second President of our nation, 5th September is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India. The event is observed to mark the birth anniversary of the esteemed personage and to pay obeisance to him.
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was not only a political figure but also a renowned author and celebrated teacher beloved by his students. When his friends and pupils proposed to celebrate his birthday, he expressed heavy skepticism and instead insisted that his birthday be observed as Teachers’ Day. He desired that the day be set apart for paying homage to other great teachers of India.
To this day, 5th of September remains a special day for teachers, although, internationally, Teachers’ Day is observed on 5th October every year. It is a day dedicated to all teachers across the country for their selfless and relentless act of service, love and generosity.
Teachers’ Day is an important day for students as well because it provides them the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts put in by their teachers towards their education. Without question, teachers should be honoured and respected. Students may be the future of society, but teachers influence the shape of the future; they help us become good human beings, better members of society and ideal citizens of the nation.
In the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Teaching is not a profession but a way of life.” Teachers lay the foundation and help build blocks for the nation. They are like potters who mold students into better, more brilliant versions of themselves. Truly, teachers are the epitome of wisdom and knowledge.
Teachers are the backbone of society. And as the common adage goes, “better than thousand days of diligent study is one day with a good teacher.” Indeed, we must learn to appreciate and acknowledge the presence of our teachers more often. And the best gift students can give their teachers is to become better than them.
Finally, to commemorate this special occasion, I would like to wish the entire Tetso teaching faculty and all the teachers across the nation a very happy Teachers Day. My well wishes also go to everyone I have had the pleasure of meeting in my life. I thank you all for imparting knowledge onto me in some way or the other. We are all teachers and we are all learners for as long as we live. Happy Teachers’ Day!
-(Therali Rebecca S Ezung, BA 1st Semester)