5TH Sept, holds the same old importance or a shift in the trend?

Priya Singh
Sep 5, 2018 · 4 min read

Today is Teacher’s Day!

The whole story behind celebrating this day, I remember how at my school in Lucknow (U.P., India) our respected Manas Sir used to explain it to us!
Today we want more of it but unfortunately those school days are long gone. This used to be that special day when we as students tried to show our love and affection towards our teachers, our gratitude towards them. I made & bought handmade greeting cards and even wrote short letters to express what verbally I might not have.

We had that respect in our eyes for our teachers that time, even though if I got scolded sometimes for anything done wrong because first they are elders, second they are my teachers, all the kids had that blind trust that my teacher won’t do or say anything which is not for our betterment. But not to forget my amazing teachers too took their work very seriously and played their role with utmost responsibility. Today I can sense the change in the trend, role and responsibility.

I won’t go deep into this but I can only wish if people respected their roles and if students again can be willing to give that respect to the teachers that
is now somewhere not visible in the eyes. I can’t blame as there are cases too to prove me wrong. But all I want to express here is…a true mentor and a true
teacher can change and shape our lives…I was lucky enough to have teachers who just not taught me the various subjects from our course but included chapters which were not a part of course at all and it taught us how to lead a happy life, difference between wrong and right.

I want to wish a very ‘Happy Teachers Day’ to all those who taught me life lessons that were important for to have and those who nurtured me specially my teachers, my parents, my mentors & to those who are inspiring others by their deeds and who are living their life with full responsibility.

I agree now-a-days one has to earn respect else it is not for sale kinda thing. It has created a lot of difference in the society. I feel privileged to have a beautiful childhood and a great school life. My teachers were not just teachers but I gave them the utmost importance. My father has been a great mentor, guide throughout. I feel like sharing his few sayings on this day because it matters -
1. Whenever I used to sit with him (He made sure then, he spent enough time with his kids) and discuss about my teachers, he used to start with -

गुरु गोबिन्द दोउ खडे काके लागूँ पाँय
बलिहारी गुरु आपने गोबिन्द दियो बताय

This is a famous doha by Sant Kabir. He used to tell me your teachers hold more importance than even us(your parents). Give them the true respect and try to learn as much as you can from them. Point I am trying to make here is — A child’s mind is like a clean slate so being parents & teachers, please fill it with right facts, education & a free space that he can fill with his own understanding.

2. I have zillions of reasons to love this man not simply because he is my father. I remember I saw him bowing down his head near a mosque. I noticed him and asked why did you bowed down there, Papa? I was too small to hardly understand that act. He was riding the scooter and so he slowed down and told me because after all it is a place where God resides, people visit this place to worship. So wherever God resides, we should bow down with respect. That time it was enough for me to understand that being a Hindu, mandir (temple) is not an only place for me to visit in order to worship God. I have numerous ways to reach out to him. And so I am a step ahead at my home, I don’t limit myself to any religion. I feel each one of us who respects his religion along-with the mutual feeling of respect for others religion as well, for me
then only you’re a true human & religionist. As ‘Mazhab nahi sikhata aapas me baer rakhna’, remember?

Now when I look back to this day, it brings immense respect for him and tears to my eyes knowing the fact that how people now fight over such issues in this world. He showed me how to be a true Hindu and human in silence. SSSsssshhhhhhhh :)

I would love to request today to all the parents of this world, and all of us to not snatch the childhood of any kid. By that I mean not to snatch the sweet ignorant nature they possess. Let him/her explore this world on his own with their own required time. Don’t put them into any pressure. Don’t put limit to what he/she can do by your thinking which gets limited due to our experiences. Let us provide them the space to grow, with love, and with a feeling of concern towards others & a sense of freedom that they can be on their own.

Let us all become the responsible citizens and have love and care for each one of us and not limited to just our own world. Let us stand together against the evil doings and start it from our own, starting today! Remember all that you studied in books once and start implementing, say — Throw the waste into the dustbin. We all have evil thoughts inside us be it for any matter,

can we begin to become a good teacher to ourselves first?

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade