Teachers’ Day is the main day that tells the importance of Guru. In India, ‘Teachers’ Day’ is celebrated every year on 5 September. Teachers have a respectable and honorable place in the society. ‘Teachers’ Day’, celebrated on the occasion of the birth anniversary and memory of India’s second President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, is like a festival, which increases the honor and respect of the teacher community. According to the Hindu calendar, the day of Guru Purnima has been accepted as ‘Guru Day’. Different countries of the world celebrate ‘Teachers’ Day’ on different dates. Many poets and prose writers have painted many pages in the glory of the Guru.
The above lines written by are enough to describe the importance of Guru in life. The tradition of Guru and teacher has been going on in India since ancient times. The glory of Gurus is also found in the scriptures. No one can ever take the place of parents in life, because they are the ones who bring us into this colorful and beautiful world. We cannot repay their debt in any form, but only teachers make us worthy of the society in which we have to live. Although the family is given the status of the primary school of the child, but the real way of living is taught to him by the teacher. The importance of teachers, who are called the architects of the society, does not end here, because they not only inspire the student to follow the right path, but the foundation of his successful life is also laid by their hands.
A day is set aside to give respect and thanks, which is known as ‘Teacher’s Day’ on 5 September. Education is not acquired by just giving money, but respect, honour and faith towards your teacher is very helpful in acquiring knowledge.[1] Teachers’ Day sounds very good to say and hear, but do we understand its importance? Teachers’ Day does not mean a rose or any other gift presented to your teacher once a year and this is also not the right way to celebrate Teachers’ Day. If you want to understand the true importance of Teachers’ Day, then first of all always keep in mind that you are a student and are much younger than your teacher. And then our values also teach us that we should respect our elders. We should respect our teacher. We should listen to and understand our teacher carefully. If we give up our anger and jealousy and sow the seeds of self-restraint within ourselves, then certainly our behavior will take us to great heights and only then will the importance of celebrating Teachers’ Day be meaningful.[2]
Saint Kabir’s words give a glimpse of the high place of Guru in Indian culture. Indian children grow up listening to the teachings of Acharya Devo Bhavah since ancient times. The system of clans named after parents is prevalent in all matriarchal or patriarchal societies of the world, but the system of Gurukul is a unique feature of Indian culture. Like a raw pot, students studying in school take the shape in which you mold them. They behave in the same way as they learn in school or are taught. Their mentality also becomes similar to what they see happening around them. Education is very useful for a successful life, which is provided by the Guru. Guru is not only related to education, but he is also ready to hold the hand of his student at every turn. He gives correct suggestions and motivates him to move ahead in life.
A teacher is like a gardener who decorates a garden with flowers of different shapes and colors. Who encourages students to walk smilingly even on thorns. He explains to them the reason to live. For a teacher, all students are equal and he wants the welfare of all. A teacher is the pivot who prepares the background for developing the inherent powers of children by making them recognize right and wrong and good and bad. He strengthens the foundation of the child by watering his mind with showers of inspiration and paves the way for his all-round development. A Guru only builds a good character in the disciple through bookish knowledge along with moral values and education in the form of sanskar. Such a tradition existed in our culture, therefore it is said that-
“Guru Brahma, Gururvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwarah.
Guru: Sakshat Parabrahma Tasmai: Shri Guruveh Namah.”
Many sages and saints made their lives meaningful by learning penance from their gurus. Eklavya considered Dronacharya as his mental guru and learned archery by keeping his idol in his hands. This example is inspiring for every disciple.
Guru-Shishya tradition is an important and sacred part of Indian culture, many golden examples of which are recorded in history. But in the present times, there are many people who are deeply hurting this tradition due to their immoral activities and greedy nature. ‘Education’, which is now being sold as a business, is a fundamental right of any child, but to satisfy their greed, many teachers have started bidding for their knowledge. Not only this, the current situation has become even worse, because in the name of education, many teachers consider it their right to physically and mentally exploit their students. But there are some Gurus who have always presented an exemplary example in front of the society. These teachers, who are usually strict and arrogant by nature, are very soft and generous from within. It is possible that at some time in the life of a student, such a Guru or teacher has come who changed the direction of his life or taught him the right way to live life.[3]
