This morning, I went looking for teachers' day quotes on WhatsApp, and noticed something that I always do. Almost every quote read “Happy Teacher’s Day” — the grammatically fuzzy version — instead of the more accurate “Happy Teachers’ Day.” Semantics aside, India celebrates this day in honor of its legendary teacher and former president, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Since it isn’t a religious festival, the observance stays within schools and colleges. For the larger public, the celebration mostly happens on social media, with the shared intent of honoring teachers.
As usual, Indian social media will overflow with “gyan” about how ancient India classified teachers into different types and levels. And it’s true—India produced remarkable teachers and teaching traditions, with sharp reflections on pedagogy itself. Among the most legendary stands Dronacharya, the guru of Arjuna in the Mahabharata. The government even named its highest sports awards after this teacher–student pair. Yet the same epic also gives us Ekalavya, who trained himself in archery by observing Drona from afar—a story that, like others, points to how limited access to education was in those times. Universal access to education, in India and elsewhere, is a very recent achievement.
So while people grumble about coaching classes and private universities today, it’s worth remembering that these institutions now serve the masses. I’m proud to be part of the private education system, even though it’s not flawless. Too often, society and parents chase only the degree and the quick payoff of a job, while undervaluing true education. I long for the day when learning itself is prioritized, and employability is seen simply as a natural outcome of good education.
Everywhere, one hears complaints about the “current generation” and its supposed lack of culture. As a teacher, I prefer not to complain but to act. That’s why I think of Vishnu Sharma, the legendary teacher behind the Panchatantra. Whether or not one man compiled it, the story endures: faced with spoilt princes, he taught them ethics, logic, and wisdom through captivating fables with Indian animals. His approach worked then, and it matters now. Information today is abundant, but teachers with the imagination and empathy of Vishnu Sharma are rare. And they are exactly what we need.
Good teaching entertains and educates—but great teaching begins with empathy.
Happy Teachers’ Day