Teaching

“Today’s teacher, somebody please ‘teach’ ‘her’ (/him)”

Francis Bacon told us that ‘knowledge is power’. But I could not manifest any power till now. What’s the reason behind it? A very tough question to answer…. Well, I have not been able to resolve this query till date. Alas! My misfortune!! Some days back while watching a reality show I heard one of the contestants answering one of the judges that, he’s a good student because his TEACHER is good. Lucky boy!!

Consumerism is in vogue. I find it very hard to get an “EKLAVYA” (excepting Big B’s flick) in today’s society. May be it’s the only commodity which is permanently out of stock. Sheer respect for teacher sans any motive of gain is a rare phenomenon now days and vice- versa. Teacher- taught relationship is one thing which we have lost in the process of development. The present picture makes the resilience of any such relationship a bleak possibility. I may be marked as cynic but I am sure that I share my thoughts with many people around me. When was the last time that I felt touching the feet of my teacher just because of devotion? I really don’t remember. The problem is not personal but it pervades the entire academic arena. Importance of such issue intensifies when the matter relates to land of “Guru- Shishya” tradition. I really cannot find any justification for the death of Prof. Sabbharwal except the commodification of the values which includes teaching.

Plato categorized knowledge as an entity which is priceless and unlimited in nature. But today price and limits have superseded the teaching and other related activities. The scope of healthy discussions between teacher and student capable of shaping future of the nation has diminished miserably. Classroom teachings today mean nothing more than “jug – mug” phenomenon where the teacher- so called ‘jug’ of the knowledge pours knowledge into ‘mug’ of the students. The creativity of students today is subdued and extinguished due to egoistic tendencies of the teacher. If you follow their standards then you are good. Any deviation from it will attract only sinister results. Where is that feeling of making one’s student better than him gone? Have we given ourselves to hedonism up to such an extent where knowledge has gone to background with notes, marks and placements taking the front place?
What I honestly feel is that situation is not so dire with a majority of students still willing to learn except the minority of sycophants who fear to leave the confines of hypocrisy. We need mull over the role of teacher in the modern society as has been also expressed by our ex- President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. It’s never too late for a good beginning!! This passage is just a stimulator to excite your mind towards this problem. Kindly give some useful suggestions in this regard so that change becomes a reality if not today, then in future, when WE will wield the power.