What is your Aim in Life?

One day one of my colleagues asked my 11 year old son what his aim in life is. He just stared back at her without answering. So she asked again, “What do you want to become in life?”  He answered politely, “I have not yet decided.”  She smiled and advised him that he should decide it. When we came out he told me, “Daddy sometimes I think that I want to become a teacher like you. When I see an aeroplane, I feel that I should become an aeronautical engineer. When I study about the Universe, I feel that I should become a space scientist. So how can I decide about my career now?”

I told him, “You need not take any such decision right now. Enjoy your school life and study well. But whatever you study, understand the concepts well and never go for memorising without understanding. When you come to class 9 or 10, you will identify your field of interest. From that moment you can start preparing for realising your ambition.” At this point he asked me, “Daddy what do you want me to become?” I told him that I wish him to become an IAS officer. He has not assured me anything and that made me happy. Because,  he is not in hurry to decide about his ambitions before identifying his field of interest.  

Every parent wants their children to become a successful citizen in the society.  So naturally we want them to study the most demanded courses. But how can we impose our unattained ambitions on them against their wish? They are going to live their own life, so they must decide about it. We can only guide them to explore the various options available to them.

From the Heart of a Teacher

(Extract of the speech delivered on the occasion of Teachers Day Celebration at Salt Christian College of Teacher Education, Dimapur, Nagaland)  

India has produced many great teachers. One of them was Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. By celebrating his birth day as Teachers Day, teachers throughout our country get honoured today. Of course, every one of us may not be a teacher like Dr. S.Radhakrishnan but certainly this day makes us to feel that we must also follow the footsteps of the great teachers of our country.

Teaching profession was once considered as a profession for those who do not get any other job. But today, the situation has changed a lot. Teachers are not only respected in the community but also well paid by the Govt. and many private institutions.

It is true that majority of our teachers in the private sector are underpaid and work under tough conditions. But fortunately this has not prevented most of them from rendering dedicated service to the student community. On this Teachers Day, I particularly salute all those teachers who contribute their best to the children in spite of the hardships they face at the hands of the managements.              

Dear friends, we teachers can certainly change the society through our dedication. But such changes cannot be brought overnight. Recently, we came across the agitation lead by Anna against corruption. We may be able to bring a strong Lokpal but it alone cannot bring drastic changes in the system. The most important thing we need to do is to change the mindset of the people. Such a change can be brought easily by the teachers.

When we bring changes in the mind of the young children, it will gradually change the outlook of the entire community. Here, we have nearly 200 Teacher Trainees. If each of you brings changes in the mind of few students of your class every year, then those few students will spread the light to the remaining world.

For this you need not change into another Mahadma Gandhi or Dr. Radhakrishnan.  All you have to do is Love your students from the depth of your heart and teach with dedication. When you teach with real love and dedication, your teaching will exhibit qualities and dimensions that are not taught in any training institute.

In this occasion, I would like to share an incident from my own life with you. Few months back, one of my former students, who is serving as an executive in a reputed multinational company had sent me a message through a social network. He has said, “Sir, you are the best teacher I had in my life.” His words made me to make critical introspection of my today’s work. When I taught him I was not experienced as I am today. But with 20 years of teaching experience in my hands, I may not get such an appreciation from my present students.

Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I have shifted my family to my home town in the year 2006. From that year onwards, I am unable to strike a perfect balance between my personal life and professional life. Even though I love all my students as I did earlier, gradually my dedication has come down. I frankly admit that I realise lot of differences in the relationship I have with my present students.

I am sharing my short comings with you because I want you to realise that the most important thing a teacher should have is Dedication. If you have the qualities of Love and Dedication with you, then all the other qualities required for a good teacher will easily be in your possession.

I really regret for my short comings and I pray in this auspicious day that the Almighty bless all of us with the strength to re- dedicate our self to the cause of education.