‘Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheswara;

Gurur Sakshyat Param Brahma Tashmei Shree Gurudevaye Namah.’

The word ‘guru’ is a Sanskrit word which means an intellectual or a spiritual guide or a leader. A guru or a teacher is a guide, motivation, inspiration and many more for his/her disciples or students. A guru is the one who is always followed and respected. A guru’s place is always the highest in a society.

To be a guru or a teacher is not an easy task. One who is a teacher needs certain qualities that all don’t possess. In easy terms a guru or a teacher should have certain qualities. A teacher should be the storehouse of knowledge. The primary duty of a teacher is to impart knowledge to the students who come under his/her guidance. A teacher should be the master of that field/subject where his/her students can trust on and come for any query.

Being humble and generous is another quality that a teacher should possess. Teachers are mostly followed by their students. A teacher should have the ability to guide the students in a proper way being the leader in every field. They are the inspiration for the millions whom they touch through their knowledge. If a teacher fails to inspire his/her students s/he can never be considered a teacher. A teacher must be the one who always inspires everyone through million little ways.

A teacher should be a good mentor. S/he should be a guide for his/her students. Every child is born with innate wisdom; each child has the ability to create history of his/her own; a teacher’s role is to make the learners understand their inner qualities. A teacher is just the one who should harp on bringing the best out of his/her students.

A teacher must be compassionate. Each child is special. They need love and care. Everything can be changed through love and understanding. A child learns the most from the one whom s/he trusts and feels s/he is cared for. Love is the ultimate healer. Children face difficulties in the process of learning. A teacher must teach them through compassion and understanding. A teacher must respect the individual dignity of each learner.

A teacher should have the ability to create scope for the learners. A teacher must create situations where a child learns by his/her own. A teacher must teach the students to ask questions. What and why are the basic questions of learning. No one gets success if they carry on certain things without knowing what and why of it. The teacher must focus on the learners’ active participation in the learning process.

The basic of learning or education is not short term successes, it has a deeper meaning. A teacher’s role is to make the learners understand the importance of education in a person’s life. A teacher’s role is to make his/her learners fit to face the challenges of life. If today’s education doesn’t help a learner to face the challenges of life that education can never be considered a good education. The young learners often fail to understand this; here the teacher’s role is crucial. A teacher must inculcate values and quality among the learners so that they can create their scope in their lives by themselves.

- By Mr. Pavan Upadyay (PGT, Asst. Teacher)