Speech on Teacher – 4

"Dear friends, respected teachers and Principal Ma’am,

It is indeed so wonderful to be here on the occasion to mark Teacher’s Day.

As we look back there is a sense of nostalgia, of course, as we reminisce the academic institutions we attended as we went from school to college and then to university and other institutions of higher learning.

But at the root of it all is the great sense of gratitude we feel for our teachers at every level of our study and learning.

What would life have been but for our teachers? They, who taught us the alphabets and then through all the years of our study till we submitted, perhaps, our post-doctoral research work.

Education is so inter-linked with teachers. And when we glorify education as the means of enlightenment, emancipation and empowerment of people, men and women, we must really realize that the possibility becomes a realization through the patience, love, service and devotion of millions of teachers.

Go back in time and the person you most fondly remember will be the teacher who taught you, perhaps at kindergarten. That was the time when you, as a little child, left the comfort of your home and parents and went into a completely new environment and started to study and play with other children. And that kindergarten teacher was the person who was loving and caring, making the initiation to learning less painful, more comfortable.

As you grew up your teachers also became your mentors, advisers, supporters, counsellors, sympathizers and role models. And your teachers were persons who made you independent thinkers, adventurous learners and inquisitive researchers. And they fostered you at every step. Even when our teachers seemed harsh or tough with us it was to make us strong and capable to deal with the reality most ably and most aptly that awaited us in the world. We realized that later. And we were only overwhelmed with gratitude.

These memories flood our minds and hearts as we remember our dear teachers. Yes, indeed!

Years may roll on and time flies, yet our teachers have a very special place in our hearts. That it seems is the power of sharing. When teachers teach us it is really that they share so much of their time, learning and life skills with us. Teachers are indeed so generous, and that is what transforms the lives of students year after year.

When we come together on occasions such as today to celebrate the lives and work of teachers, let us determine to share, in our own way, something that we may be endowed with, with those who may lack it. When we can do something akin to what our teachers did for us, it would only make our teachers happy and proud of us. It may be one way of saying a big thank you to our teachers.

Nothing can equal what our teachers have done for us. But we can try in whatever small way we can.

Thank you!
"