Dr Radhakrishnan, a messenger of humanity
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a great scholar of world repute, an eminent philosopher, a visionary, a silvertongued orator, a torch bearer of human values and above all a teacher par excellence. He served the nation and humanity in various capacities with incomparable competence, devotion and dignity. The light in him with the divine flame of truth and love, cannot be put out. The grateful nation, therefore, celebrates Teachers’ Day on his birthday — September 5 — since 1962.
Radhakrishnan believed that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”. A teacher is always a learner, “When we think we know, we cease to learn.” He also believed that scientific discovery and technological development alone cannot bring about the betterment of mankind. We should not place too much emphasis on scientific training. This needs to be honed up by the development of the basic human values.
Our country needs scientists, engineers, doctors, leaders, professionals in all fields but at the same time they must be humanists too. We become demoniac in the absence of compassion. Radhakrishnan used to quote a verse which says that in this poison tree of samsara, there are two fruits of incomparable value. They are the enjoyment of great books and the company of good souls.
No institution can regard itself as a true institution unless it sends out young men and women who are not only learned but also whose hearts are full of compassion for the suffering humanity. Unless that is there, the institution’s education must be regarded as incomplete. In his opinion, mental slums are more dangerous to mankind than material slums.
The ability to teach students and to inspire them to a new line of enquiry is a rare gift. The work and reputation of an institution depend on the presence of such teachers. Courses in science and technology with a blend of human values promote a balanced education. This avoids evils of narrow specialisation. The lesson to learn here is to remain faithful to oneself.
After delivering the message of the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield and outlining what are the do’s and don’ts of intelligent living, Lord Krishna says, ‘Yathechasi Tatha Kuru,’. This means, ‘I have told you everything. Now you can do what you like and act as you please.’ Radhakrishnan used to frequently deliver enlightened discourses on the Gita.
In the 1938 BHU convoca- tion, he was conferred ‘Doctor of Laws’. In his convocation address, he suggested a chair of Islamic civilisation. This reflects his human values regardless of caste, creeds and religion. He took over as vice chancellor of this university in 1939 as a humble fellow-worker in this great shrine of learning (BHU). He popularised the message of Lord Krishna through his incomparable lectures on ‘Gita’. He took the university at higher heights even during the turbulent period of freedom movement. At the silver jubilee convocation on January 21, 1942, Radhakrishnan spoke in his prophetic voice, “With these two great men, Malaviyaji and Gandhiji on our dais, men touched by grace, sanctified by spirit, this city of Benares already holy becomes holier.”
According to Dr Radhakrishnan, a teacher “must be a committed man, committed to faith in the future of man, in the future of humanity, in the future of the country and the world.”
Teachers, according to him, must impart to the students “zest for new experience, love for adventure in knowledge.” Love of the students is, therefore, the first essential quality of a teacher. Teachers should try to understand their students, their needs, their interests, their abilities, their wishes, their attitudes and their problems. Here lies the essence of human values.
Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are the latest development in the higher education. This may impact both teaching and learning. For the teacher, this presents challenges, including curriculum design, and attitude to learning and teaching.
On t his Teachers’ Day, while paying rich tributes to Radhakrishnan, we need to pay our attention to ‘human values’ and how to make it more effective in our march to sustaining traditional learning and advancing with digital learning.
The writer is a professor at the department of physics, IIT
(BHU), Varanasi.