No One Higher Than A Teacher

No matter what role you are playing in society, someone, somewhere, taught you, guided you. You have to acknowledge this.

There is no one higher than a teacher in society. No politician, no bureaucrat, no officer, no manager, no scientist, no businessman, no one.

For Knowledge sustains everything and those capable of transmitting Knowledge sustain everyone.

The minute a society forgets this and starts undervaluing its teachers, degradation sets in - in skill as well as values. It will always be so.

We need the very best in every field - science, medicine, law, liberal arts, warfare - to also come forward and serve as teachers and professors (either part time alongside their primary practice or as full time academics). If our schools, colleges and universities thrive as centers of learning, as fields where students grow and mature to become knowledgeable, skilled and deeply humane, every other aspect of our national and global life will thrive as a natural consequence.

(Needless to say, we are only talking about committed and competent teachers and professors But that doesn't change the point being made.)

Note 1: Teaching includes research guidance! Even scientists and researchers have to acknowledge that someone guided them into developing their research acumen at some point in time.

Note 2: At least in this part of the world, the profession of teaching, all the way from teaching children to mature adults (teachers were called acharyas, rishis and gurus), always included a component of contemplation and inquiry. We call this component research in the present times. So at least as far as I am, and this post is, concerned, teaching means teaching + research - all the way from primary schools to universities. If teachers and professors spend some time every day in contemplation and inquiry, students pick up the spirit naturally. And it is important - for everyone - to pick up this spirit.