During the testing times of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the schools being shutdown, the observance of the Teachers' Day is going be held on September 5 through virtual events on social media and digital platforms.
The ex-students of the Motilal Nehru School of Sports (MNSS) at Rai in Haryana, popularly called Ex-Raist, have thought of organizing such an event on Teachers’ Day on digital platform of Zoom to get connected with their teachers and interact with them.
The event is also connected with honouring teachers and posting articles on e-journals, e-papers and websites regarding teaching profession.
The concept “School as Temple of Learning” (Vidya Ka Pawan Mandir) has its origin in Vedic period of Indian subcontinent.
WEBSITE POST
Many schools even go by the title “Vidya Mandir” with the tradition of having an idol of Goddess Sarawati at the entrance of the school building.
Some schools have their ‘school songs’ describing the school’s attributes and value system . For example, the school song of the MNSS has line with ‘Vidya ka pawan mandir.’
Earlier, I had written in post at slideshare, “In the Vedic literature, the teacher has been given an exalted position in society. The discourse analysis of Vedic literature reveals that the teacher then was called 'Guru', which means the one who 'leads students from darkness to light'. “
My research on the discursive data from the literature reveals that exalted image of teacher during Vedic period revolved around the phrases like:
(i) The dispeller of darkness of ignorance;
(ii) The developer of cognitive and spiritual potentials of pupils;
(iii) The guide to self realization;
(iv) The liberator from the bondage of life and knowledge;
(v) A second mother - the one giving a second lease of life;
(vi) A role model of simple, frugal and self-satisfied living;
(vii) The transformer of society - a social leader and a wise opinion leader;
(viii) The imparter of self-knowledge; and
(ix) Divinity personified.
The assumptions and perceptions of society about the teacher during the Vedic period were idealistic and the teachers tried to live up to those perceptions.
Epilogue: The inset picture shows some of the teachers of MNSS, a poem penned by this scribe, and host team of Shalini and Sonam – the two Ex-Raist
Comments