In the memory of the great son of Mother land, India, Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radha Krishnan, Indian Scholar, Philosopher, and Statesman, his birthday 5th September is being celebrated as Teachersâ€(tm) Day throughout the country. On this day educationists, teachers and students remember Dr. S Radha Krishnan, who started his career as a teacher and finally ended up as the President of India.
Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radha Krishnan was born on 5 September 1888, in a middle class family in the temple town of Tiruttani in Tamil Nadu. There are few who adorn the post while few are adorned by the post. The name of Dr. S Radha Krishnan falls in the first category. He was the first Vice-President of India and became the second President of India in 1962, after Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
When he was elected as the President of India, the dream of Plato that the King should be a philosopher was fulfilled. After he became President of India, some of his admirers requested him that they might be permitted to celebrate his birthday. He told them to celebrate his birthday, 5th September as Teachersâ€(tm) Day in the country. It reflects how much importance he gave to the teaching profession - the noblest profession since olden days.
A nation is built on its educational institutions. The kind of education we provide to our children is determined by the kind of men and women we secure as teachers. The objects of education can be achieved if there is perfect teamwork between the teacher and the taught. When both the parties are interested, the pursuit of knowledge becomes a lively experience.
Our nation needs ideal teachers. An ideal teacher must always be affectionate, encouraging, impartial and disciplined. Ideal teachers, it is said, are born but none can deny that some of them are also made. They are made as good as born ideal teachers by systematic training and inculcating in them the good principle of dedicated service to the youth.
In fact, an ideal teacher is a friend, philosopher and guide of the students. He builds their character and brings their intellect to a more advanced state. He aims at the balanced growth of his pupils and insists on both knowledge and wisdom. He not only trains the thinking power of the mind but also brings grace into the heart of the pupil. He has a general philosophy or attitude of life.
A good teacher is one who is willing to learn and to communicate. Thus to be a good teacher, one must like what he teaches and be fond of those whom he teaches. In general, the teacher should aim at a balanced growth of the students. He should insist on both knowledge and wisdom. He should train the intellect of the student and also bring grace into his heart.
The teacher's job is to nurture the students with right thoughts. The students must be given a conductive and protective environment. The teacher and the taught must never be taken as the leader and the led or the driver and the driven on the contrary they should work as a team. The greatest teacher is one who wants to make you learn.
A teacher has the privilege, the power to mould the hearts and the lives of all the students. We need teachers of intellectual competence who will not only give the students what they want but also make them what is necessary for all round growth.
No teacher can inspire his pupils or win their respect if he is not himself interested in extending the frontiers of knowledge. The ability to inspire students to new lines of enquiry is a rare gift. Thus educational institutions need teachers who will train the young to the best possible all-round development, individual and social, besides making them intelligent and good.
In the words of Tagore, the teacher is a lamp and unless the lamp is burning other lamps can't be lit. To be a successful teacher, one should possess patience, sense of humour, originality, versatility, cheerfulness, dignity, tact, exemplary character, keenness of observation, perseverance, health and strength and above all unyielding firmness tempered by kindness.
If properly moulded by teachers, youth will turn into useful of the country. Once Dr. S Radha Krishnan said, "Until and unless we have dedicated and committed teachers who take teaching as a mission in their lives, we cannot have a good educational system". He passed away on April 17, 1975 at Chennai.
PS Prakasa Rao
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