SITTING BY THE GURU’S SIDE

As the nation gears up to celebrate Teachers’ Day on September 5, let’s glimpse into the life of some legendary teachers. Since 1962, the day commemorates the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakhrishnan, the former President and a great teacher.

1

He had a courtesy name called Zhongni and is remembered for his golden rule, “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” According to reports, over two million persons have been registered as his descendants. Identify.

2

National Anthem of Sri Lanka was written and composed by Ananda Samarakoon. He was a student of this legendary teacher. He inspired his guru’s favourite genre of music for the anthem and heralded a new brand of Sinhalese music. Who was the legendary teacher?

3

She is hailed as the “Teacher in Space” when she won a competition of the same name conducted by NASA and was chosen to go to space. On January 28, 1986, the Challenger space shuttle in less than two minutes after lift-off exploded in front of her students and family. Identify.

4

He started his own school, The Lyceum, as rival to his teachers Academy. His strange habit of walking back and forth as he taught earned the Lyceum the name of the Peripatetic School (from the Greek word for walking around, Peripatetikos). Identify.

5

He is the most influential AfricanAmerican educator of the early 20th centuries who founded the Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University. He gave advice to the President, has written two autobiographies and was the first African American to be invited to the White House. Identify.