By Surya Prakash Mohapatra, 05 September 2021: I was inspired to write this article on the occasion of TEACHER’S DAY.
Let me begin with a story. Once upon time, there was a teacher in England. He had set up a school in his county which became very popular. The teacher with his honesty, dedication and hard work had built this school as a center of learning which was one of its kind. The King of the county got to know about the school and wanted to visit the school. King’s desire was conveyed to the teacher immediately. The teacher wrote back to the King, “Your majesty, please allow me to visit your palace. I would come and share all the details about the school with you.” The King was infuriated and ordered the teacher to meet me at the earliest. “What an audacity !! How come you are not interested in my visiting your school ?” , the King fumed when the teacher was brought before him.
The teacher replied, “Your Majesty, the day you would visit my school, I would have to stand in front of the school gate with folded hands. I would have to bow down before you when you arrive. For my students, their teacher is the most supreme personality. They cannot accept the fact there is someone superior to their teacher. I don’t want my students to lose their respect for their teacher. I don’t want them to lose the belief that their teacher is the most supreme personality on the earth.”
The King was moved by the words of this brave man. He realized why this school has emerged as an ideal school. Needless to say, that this institution went on to become a great institution of learning in England.
Schools are not made up of buildings, libraries and play grounds. Schools as ideal centers of learning are shaped and moulded by their teachers who adhere to the highest standards of value and ethics. Schools are built by teachers for whom teaching is a passion and not a profession.
On the occasion of Teacher’s Day, I am reminded of the golden words of Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra:
“A teacher should walk in the way of learning in every aspect of his life, should study to impart educative influence upon every individual with every cultural urge stamping his own personality everywhere, so that his footsteps become glaring to his environment, thus he becomes the living Ideal of Education.”
Happy Teachers Day ! !
About the Author: Mr Surya Prakash Mohapatra is a senior management professional and an industry thought leader in HR and L&D space. He has been awarded as one of the 25 Most Talented Training and Development leaders in the world by World HRD Congress.
