Significance of Guru Poornima and an Ideal Teacher

Guru poornima is observed (24^th July 2021) all over the country to honor one’s chosen spiritual or academic gurus or teachers. According to Hindu calendar Guru poornima is observed on the full moon day of Ashadha month. It is celebrated as a very important festival in India, Nepal and Bhutan by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. It is also called Vyasa Poornima as it marks the birthday of Veda Vyasa who authored great epic Mahabharatha. Buddhists celebrate the festival in honor of Gautham Buddha who gave his first sermon on this day at Sarnath. Hindus celebrate the festival to pay respects to their revered teachers and remember their past teachers as well. Ascetics belonging to Hindu religion and monks observe Guru Poornima by offering puja to their Guru, during the Chaturmas which marks the four months period of seclusion and stay in one pre chosen place. The festival highlights Guru Shishya Parampara regarded as very sacred in our country.

According to Jainism, it was this day Mahavira after attaining Kaivalya,made Indirabhuti Gautam, a Ghanadhara, his first disciple.

Guru is made of two words

The Sanskrit work Guru is made of two words Gu – means darkness and Ru – that which dispels darkness. Guru is the dispeller of darkness. A teacher plays a very important role in the lives of students, Apart from sharing his/her knowledge with students, he/she also familiarizes students with values and life skills, which prepare them to face challenges in life with confidence.Hence, it is rightly said “ A teacher is a nation builder.”

His Excellency Ramanath Kovind, President of India got down from the dais to touch his former teacher’s feet at his alma mater BNSD Inter College and Shiksha Niketan at Kanpur. This incident speaks volumes on the Indian tradition of expressing reverence to one’s teacher irrespective of the position held by the person

Building a nation does not imply building of skyscrapers. In the real sense, nation building refers to building a society consisting of socially responsible citizens whose presence adds value to the society. Parents play a very important role in producing such responsible citizens. It is said that “Home is the First School and the Mother is the First Teacher”.

In my career as a Professor for the past forty five years, I have found that in recent times, parents have failed in discharging their parental duties in producing responsible citizens to a large extent.  The fact is reflected in the behavior of students in particular and youth in general. Many parents plead with teachers to advise their children to mend their behavior and reform them. Therefore, teachers play a very significant role in building an ethical society. I can quote several instances wherein  teachers have succeeded while parents have failed in reforming the students.

Acharya Devo Bhava

In our country, traditionally teaching profession is regarded as one of the noble professions. In Taitriya Upanishad, teachers’ divine role is acknowledged by the statement “Acharya Devo Bhava”. A teacher is compared to “Divya Traiyas Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara”

The stupendous role played by teachers in nation building activities and socio – economic development of the society is very meaningfully emphasized and brought out in the following quotes.

“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, Plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people–Confucius”

A Lecturer in a South African University wrote a message and placed it at the entrance of the college. He wrote“Collapsing any nation does not require use of atomic bombs or the use of long range missiles. But it requires the lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the exams by students”.

“ Build a good school today, Avoid hundred Jails tomorrow” – Swami Veereshananda Saraswathi Swamiji, President, Rama Krishna mutt, Tumkur.

“Destiny of a Nation is shaped in the Classrooms” – Education report of 1968

Teachers are the backbone of any educational institution. Without good quality teachers, no institution can prosper even if it has the state -of –the- art –infrastructure and imposing building. Active participation of teachers is very essential for the successful implementation of academic projects and for ushering in good quality educational system in the institution. In the following paragraphs, we shall try to understand the essential traits required for a person to become an accomplished and a competent teacher.

 A person must enter the teaching profession by choice not by chance.

He/ Shemust –

• have passion for teaching.
•  have sound knowledge of the subject.
•  treat students as his/her own children and shower love and affection on them.
•  have ability to create curiosity in the subject.
•  be creative and innovative.
•  have willingness to become a lifelong learner and to broaden his/her knowledge horizon.
•  have excellent communication skills.
•  have an excellent conduct and character appreciated by students, parents and public and worthy of emulation by others.
•  not distinguish between professional conduct and personal conduct.
•  be able to identify hidden talents in students, nurture them and facilitate their growth.
•  have competence to imbibe good human values in students and make them responsible citizens.
• be an ocean of patience.

A good teacher needs to play multi dimensional roles

The learning abilities vary from student to student. A teacher has to assess the learning abilities of  students and change the teaching style accordingly to suit the learning abilities of students. A good teacher needs to play multi dimensional roles; a sculptor in shaping the future of students, a motivator in encouraging students to accept challenges and an advisor in making them good citizens. Most importantly, a teacher has to be an academic parent and an academic leader.

I would not be exaggerating if I state that the job of a teacher is quite tough and highly responsible. He/She has to handle a class consisting of students hailing from different cultural and social backgrounds, having varied interests and with different learning abilities.A teacher has to understand all these diversities and strategize to shape the educational careers of all the students. This task can be managed only bya competent teacher.

 A person can become an accomplished and competent teacher only if he/she is highly knowledgeable and a living embodiment of good qualities. The teachers are brand builders of an institution

Education is the panacea for ills in the society. In conclusion, a teacher is a frontline worker in the task of building a healthy, strong and ethical society and hence all of us need to adore teachers and the teaching profession.

SWADESHE PUJYATHE RAJA, VIDWAN SARWATHRA PUJYATHE