A Reflection on Teachers’ Day
On 5th September, which we celebrate as Teachers’ Day, I came across a video in my WhatsApp group of friends. The video was created by an Instagram influencer with more than 64,000 followers. It throws a dark shade towards the role of teachers. But I felt it was one-sided. It overlooked the deeper value and contribution of teachers in our society. It is easy to criticise any profession. Every profession has both strengths and weaknesses. Teaching is no exception. There is a lot of scope to improve. But the role of teachers goes far beyond academics. They shape personalities. They nurture values. They guide students during crucial stages of life. This role becomes even more important during higher education years, between 18 and 25. At this age, students have high energy, curiosity, idealism, and sometimes even rebellion. Teachers help to channelise this energy in the right direction. They guide it towards innovation, social service, critical thinking, and nation-building. If such...