“I am not a mere employee. I am not a mercenary. I am a citizen. These children in front of me are my budding fellow – citizens: I’m here to help them to acquire knowledge and character”. - what a beautiful attitude of an ideal teacher, yes an ideal teacher is one who is passionate about his subject, well trained in the art of ignited young minds developing a loving relationship and deeply concerned about the welfare of his/her students as individually and at last a silent nation builder”.
Words are not infinite to describe or to tell about a teacher who inspires as role model. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishna’s notion of teachers is that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”. A teacher is the first person who taught A, B, C, D… Z at the first stage of all our lives. It’s not merely the alphabets but in turn such alphabet speaks a lot about the teacher’s role. Look at it.
A – Awakens intellectual joy in creative expression and knowledge
B - Builds nation
C –custodian’s behaviour
D- Dedicated to acquiring knowledge
E-Effort put into preparing into each night
F-Facilitates in improving knowledge ability and skill
G- Guides in developing personality growth
H- Helps in all spheres of gaining knowledge
I- Inspires, instructs, imagines highly as role models
J-Jauntyness (cheerfulness) brought on each day
K-Knows each student strengths and weakness
L-Love of teaching
M-Motivates to build a good personality
N-Nurtures behind all work efficiency
O-Overcomes fear and problems difficulties
P-Patience listening to all
Q-Quality of time sense
R- Respects and responses quickly to the quires
S-Simple gestures to provide a climate of study
T-Tolerates mistakes
U-Understands clearly
V-Vicarious pleasure in rendering value of service
W-Words of encouragement appreciation and appraisals
X-EXtra special care
Y-Yokes continuous learning and teaching
Z- A big Zealot (a person who is very keen and enthusiast)
Personal example of Narendranath Datta: Narendranath Datta was inspired by the words of his professor William Hastie who had said that “I have seen only one person who has experienced that blessed state of mind and he is Ramakrishna Paramahansa of Dakshineshwar”. A few days later Narendranath Datta along with his friends visited that place and under the training of this divine teacher he transformed as Swami Viveknanada. And this was the turning point in his life.
Personal example of a student who became President of India: The teacher was teaching about the flight of birds. But when the students couldn’t understand it he took them the same evening to the seashore of Rameshwaram. There he showed the birds flying and explained the lift, drag etc. he ignited the mind of one of his students who rose and became the President of India – He is Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam and the inspiring teacher is Sri Siva Subramanian Iyer who more than half century age taught the class 8 students.
Dr.Kalam says “my teacher really gave me a goal and a mission for my life….that one incident of my teacher teaching the lesson, showing the visual live example proved to be a turning point in my life which eventually shaped my profession”.
(The author is Asst Professor, Dept of MBA, VBIT)