Happy Teachers Day to The Pillars of Our Lives, and Our Lifelines for Learning.

 

Teachers’ Day tribute to mentors, guides, and educators—celebrating their role in shaping lives and nurturing lifelong learning

गुरु ब्रह्मा गुरु विष्णु, गुरु देवो महेश्वरः। गुरु साक्षात् परब्रह्म, तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥

 

In a world that often rewards performance, there are those who teach us presence. They are our Teachers who don’t just deliver lessons, but hold space for our personal being. They are the ones who notice the silence between questions. Who teach not by instruction, but by attunement.

 

This Teachers’ Day, I honour all those teachers:

•    The ones who stayed after class—not to explain the syllabus, but to ask how we were, what are dreams are or how we tackled the difficulties not in academic but personal life too. They are the mentors of our life.

•   The ones who taught us how to think (whether inductive or deductive) and not just what to think.

•   The ones who modeled care for us, even when the system didn’t whether during the seminars, outings or anywhere they met us.

And I also honour the invisible teachers too:

•    A parent who taught resilience by example not just by instructing.

•    A friend who challenged our assumptions with kindness.

•    A stranger whose story stayed with us longer than any textbook.

 

Teaching is relational work which involves emotional labour. It is not just any other desktop task. It’s relational work. It’s the quiet art of showing up, again and again, even when no one’s watching.

In this age of AI and algorithms, we ask: Can a machine teach? Maybe. But only if it learns to listen. Only if it learns to care just like our own teachers.

So, today, I offer this post not as a performance, but as a presence. For the teachers who shaped me and made me the kind of person I am. And also for the ones who still do.

Happy Teachers’ Day—to those who teach with heart.

If a teacher—formal or invisible—has shaped your path, I invite you to share their story. Let this space honor their quiet strength.

Special thanks to Dr. Ram Mehar and Dr. Ajay for sharing this awesome picture of esteemed Professors of Department of Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh.