Shaping the future of the nation

MAKERS AND MASTERS A guru is like a magician, who ignites young minds and gives wings to your imagination. This Teacher’s Day, we ask some teachers in the region about the noble profession and its current state: 1. What do you cherish most about being a teacher? 2. Has the teaching profession lost its glory? If yes, what will help redeem it? 3. How has the teacherstudent relationship changed over time? 4. One life lesson that you share with your students.

CHANDIGARH Prof Arun Kumar Grover, vice-chancellor of Panjab University, Chandigarh

1. I think, teaching is the most satisfying job. We teach what we have studied and much more. With each year, the passion grows.

2. Yes, the sheen is lost to some extent. The profession needs a commitment from the government, to recognise the potential of youth and help the teachers to groom the future generations.

3. The teacher-student relation has changed due to technology, which has reduced interaction between students and teachers. Earlier, knowledge was based on interaction, now it is available at a click.

4. Never give up, no matter what the situation is. Look at the positive side in everything. As they say, see the glass half full and not half empty.

Dharam Singh Sandhu, principal of Satish Chander Dhawan Government College, Ludhiana

1. Being a teacher is the best thing in my life. I am in a profession through which I can educate and empower the future of our nation.

2. There is a change of setup, but the glory is still there. We still have dedicated people in the profession. What needs to be done is motivating them.

3. With time, a few changes are there in the teacher-student relationship, but most of the teachers and students still maintain a healthy and cordial relationship. Students still respect the teachers.

4. Hard work always pays.One should respect others to get respected. Lastly, teamwork brings rewards and helps in making smart decisions.

Indu Banga, Emeritus professor at department of history, Panjab University, Chandigarh

1. Teaching has not been just a job for me; it is my passion and lifelong vocation. It enabled me to do something for the society and repay my debt to my teachers.

2. The glory of teaching profession is somewhat lost. This situation can be helped imroved by making appointments strictly on merit-basis and periodic quality improvement at all levels.

3. From my experience, the relationship is still the same. Every student is different in terms of degree of commitment, interests and honesty of purpose.

4. Believe in yourself, be inquisitive, learn to think critically, and do something worthwhile for the society.

AMRITSAR Prof Dr Jaspal S Sandhu, vice-chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

1. Teachers build the human resource that runs a country. We are like potters who shapes dough into beautiful figurines.

2. Teaching is a peaceful and fulfilling job. It gives the satisfaction of shaping the lives of every citizen of a country. I don’t think it has lost its glory. We just have to reinvent the education system according to modern times.

3. These days, students are more demanding. They question the conventions and are more inquisitive. Teachers have to keep themselves abreast with the latest and change their. Overall, the relationship is still good.

4. Have a flight of thought and do what your heart desires.

Dr Amod Gupta, ophthalmologist and former dean of PGI, Chandigarh

1. As a teacher of postgraduate doctors, the satisfaction and pride in moulding young physicians into world-class surgeons and seeing them compete with the best, has always been cherishing.

2. If teaching profession loses its sheen, teachers are to be blamed. They need to start taking pride in their work and in the achievements of their students.

3. Earlier, teachers were considered as fountains of knowledge. There is exponential growth of information, but only teachers can guide us in correct direction.

4. I would like to say that teachers should practice the values that they wish to see in their students.

Dr PK Sharma, principal of Hindu College, Amritsar

1. This profession offers us the scope to create responsible men and women who can make the world a better place. It gives us the chance to selflessly nurture them into strong individuals.

2. Teaching is an honourable profession. But in India, it appears to be losing its sheen. To return its former glory, government need to haul the education system and produce educators who love this job.

3. The teacher-student relation has changed over the years. Respect for teachers has diminished. Students can be really disrespectful. But, the relationship has also become more frank and casual.

4. Life always gives you a choice. And there is no problem that does not have a solution.

Sneh Mahajan, former principal of MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh

1. Being a teacher gives us a joy to be with young children. One feels younger with them. You learn so much from them, and then you guide them.

2. It is controversial to say whether teaching has lost its glory or not. But I think it is still a noble profession. If one is sincere and committed, he/she will be satisfied with their work.

3. The teacher-student relationship is still the same. People who are committed to the profession are still respected by the students.

4. A life lesson I give to my students is that they should be morally upright under any circumstance. They should never compromise with their principles.

Dr Mehal Singh, principal of Khalsa College, Amritsar

1. Teaching gives us a chance to make students well versed with cultural values and knowledge. I feel that it is my top priority to keep students in touch with their social ethics.

2. There are few teachers who teach moral values to the students. Also, privatisation of educational institutions has had a bad impact on the profession. Government should provide adequate facilities to recover the former gloryof teaching.

3. The relationship has definitely changes. About 20 years back, students used to bow down before their gurus, but now students don’t even bother to fold hands in respect.

4. Hard work and dedication are must. College life is one of the best times in life and one should make the most out of it.

N Sathyamurthy, director of Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Mohali

1. The satisfaction of seeing your students doing well in life and in the profession they choose is what matters most.

2. Teachers will always remain relevant no matter what. The mode of teaching may change with the time, but the core values of the profession will always remain constant.

3. The relationship has definitely changed over the time. It is no longer as sacrosanct as it used to be before. Nevertheless a good teacher will always be remembered and revered among his/her students.

4. Listen to your teachers as they help in shaping a whole new generation of the students. For me, teachers are no less than godfathers.

JALANDHAR Dr Aatima Sharma, principal of KMV College, Jalandhar

1. The best part about being a teacher is making a difference in students’ life. When you see your students reaching new heights, it gives you utmost satisfaction.

2. I don’t think teaching has lost its glory. It is still the noblest profession in the world. At a time when social media has left our children confused, it is teachers who guide them in the right direction.

3. There is too much focus on the commercial angle, so the relation has changed. The students and teachers are now part of a vicious circle where material benefits are getting more important than human values.

4. Nothing is impossible in life if you are sincere and dedicated. Also, one should always strive to get better.

LUDHIANA Mohinder Kaur Grewal, principal of Government College for Girls, Ludhiana

1. For me being a teacher is a bliss. A teacher never feels old as he/she is always among the young people. I cherish their selfless relationship with the students.

2. Whether teaching has lost its former glory depends on our way of thinking. Erosion of values and rise of materialism has affected the profession. Motivation and awareness is the need of the hour.

3. This teacher-student relationship has always been selfless and sacred. But now, some teachers do not meet with the expectations of their students.

4. Hard work, sincerity, honesty and positive thinking always pay. Following these principles is the key to success.

Gurpinder Singh Samra, principal of Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar

1. Being a teacher is an important job as we build the foundation of the future (youth). As a teacher, it is my responsibility to impart good values to my students.

2. Government should start investing in higher education so that more youths join the teaching profession. It is the moral responsibility of all teachers to fulfil their duties selflessly.

3. Things have changed, but the teacher-students relationship can be restored through mutual effort. Both parties should make an effort to perform their duties well.

4. My teachers were strict, but they taught me valuable lessons in life. Students should not take their teacher’s criticism in a negative way.

Mukti Gill, principal of Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana

1. The best part about being a teacher is that it gives you the power to share and propagate knowledge among your students.

2. I don’t believe that the teaching profession has not lost its glory. It is an evergreen profession. In fact the relationship between teachers and students is among the most beautiful and pious relations.

3. The relationship has changed but in a good way. Now, it has become more cordial. Nowadays the teachers have become more friendly towards their students.

4. Align your head, heart and hands to harvest happiness and achieve harmony in life. I firmly belive in this as it is important for a person to put in their heart in whatever they do.

PATIALA Sangeeta Handa, principal of Government Mohindra College, Patiala

1. It is through this profession that I am empowered to transform lives. I can impart knowledge and mould my students’ minds in the right way.

2. Teaching has lost its sheen. We can redeem it by teaching moral standards, creating a good work culture and reconnecting with the students, as that is the need of the hour.

3. Teaching has become more mechanical process now, thus changing the dynamics of the teacher-student relationship. We have less time for interactions with the students, while other things are time engrossing and creating a rift between the students and teachers.

4. There is no short cut to success in life. It is important to focus on the good points in life to be happy.

Savita Uppal, principal of Arya College, Ludhiana

1. I consider myself lucky to be in this profession. Everyday, I get to interact with and teach the youngsters. Also, I get to guide them in the right direction for the betterment of the society.

2. The former glory of the teaching profession is intact. It can be enjoyed in the modern times as well, if the teachers are able to match their frequency of thoughts with students’.

3. With time, the teacher-student relationship has changed just like everything else. Now, students want their teachers to be more of a friend than a guru.

4. The lessons that I give to my students is that they should be true to their own self. If you want perfection in everything, why not exercise it in every moment of your life.

BS Ghuman, vice-chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala

1. In this profession, we get to teach students from different background, which also gives us a chance to learn from them. This enriches our overall experience and thus our teaching skills.

2. Teaching has not lost its glory. It has invented new teaching brigade and is using information technology to meet the expectations of the society.

3. Yes, the relationship dymics ahve have changed. Earlier teachers were guides, philosophers and friends, all in one. Today this position is being questioned due to commercialisation of the profession.

4. Life, like teaching, is a two-way process. You can learn from everyone, if you observe carefully.