So many teachers, just a few gurus.

As a student I have always felt that the veneration of the teaching fraternity as a whole was an aggrandizement. I had a sense of guilt buried deep inside me for the fact that I had genuine respect for only a very few of them. Being from India, where as children, we grow up hearing the old adage 'Matha Pitha Guru Daivam', to think otherwise meant to sin. Nevertheless my thoughts remained the same. As I grew up, I found out that I was not the only one to feel this way.

Recently I happened to watch a few vlogs discussing the same, where more people expressed similar opinions and harsh experiences from their teachers, through different stages of their academic period. While some of them were unsettling, what soothed me is the early signs of the breakage of a stereotype which was unnecessary and sometimes detrimental to the student community in so many ways. 

However, this also got me thinking about my own teachers. Among all the trash, I have to admit that there indeed were some gems. A few teachers with great personalities which made them not just teachers, but gurus. I had the fortune to be taught by these gurus of excellence. But what is truly special about them is the fact that I remember them for the extras they taught us students, which was not just academics but life lessons. It's exactly those insights that make them a cut above the rest. 

Apart from academic stress, being a student is an easy phase of one's life, when one doesn't have any responsibility to shoulder. So all those precious advices were received at a stage of my life when they were actually not needed. But just a few years down the line, reality came down so heavily on me that it brought back to memory all those old lessons, which by then, had brewed into some strong wine of wisdom in my subconscious. Through tough times, I remembered their words and put my best foot forward. I'm sharing them here since it's a takeaway for everyone.

1. Always stand up for what you think is right or ethical no matter what the world thinks. 

2 If you want a particular life or a life partner, you should be able to convince your parents about the same. If they aren't convinced, still go for it if you are sure.

3.Miracles do happen. Accept them.

4.Sometimes life will have blessings that come in disguise.

5. A good posture is an essential part of being a good student. While sitting, walking or standing. 

6. Failure is perfectly fine. Just understand the reason.

7. Indian textbooks are not always to be scorned at. Read international authors and Indian both.

8. If you are not in the mood to study, don't study. Kill some time. In a few hours or days, you may feel thoroughly tensed over the valuable time you lost ,that the fear makes you learn faster and thus compensates for the loss.(This is particularly for exam time. And yes, it works.)

9.Trust your intuition. Especially those that feel like a forewarning.

10. It's fine for teachers to be open to students, step down from their all perfect  godly image and once in a while reveal their human side too. Students always appreciate honesty. (In one instance, one of my professors hinted that he tried cannabis in his youth. He is one of the best and most respected professors in the campus.)

11.Always be genuine, in actions and words,  to people and to yourself. Its pays back.

12.Appreciation goes a long way. A strong positive reinforcement can boost a person's confidence and bring out the best in him . 

13. Identify the hidden talents in a student and let them know about it, if they are unaware of it.( At the age of ten, one of my teachers prophesied something and made  an appreciative note on my answer sheet. That was twenty years back. Today I'm exactly there.) 

14. Romantic feelings are normal. At any age ! 

15. Human mind is an extremely complex one and unpredictable. Always be prepared for surprises.

16. Education is not just blind learning. If you stumble upon something new but hesitate to probe more in fear of going against orthodox teachings, remember everything was once new. Challenge old teachings whenever required without self doubt.

17. Let go off prejudices. Stay open minded.

18. Students are like plants. The right environment matters in growth and fruition.

19. More women should take up male dominated  professions or branches. The presence and contribution of women do make a positive difference, just like it does to a marvellous home. 

20. There will always be some people to drag you down. It's a trap. Don't lose your confidence or trust in your abilities no matter what. 

21. Listen to people whenever possible. Listening makes you a better human whether you realise it or not. 

22. Kindness matters. To strangers but most importantly to yourself. The conscience prick will be saved in your subconscious for a later time to hurt. 

22. When in doubt, do no harm. Omission is better than commission. This is when you  are dealing with someone else's life and there are chances of you messing it up with your unsure actions.

23. Don't (try to) study everything in any textbook. You may refer later if needed.

24. Intelligence is nothing to be haughty about. It's just a genetic lottery like beauty or  what is contemporarily considered desirable physical traits. Also, there are several types of intelligence, though most teachers categorise students as intelligent based only on their ability in the logical mathematical type of intelligence ; which is completely wrong. Every type of intelligence matters.

25. A student may have times of vulnerabilities and instabilities. They may have hidden internal conflicts and personal battles to fight. If they ever show a sign of wanting someone, or a teacher to reach out to them, then reach out and help them. Do not hesitate. We are all humans first before anything else.

As you can see, though some of these are related to academics, those are practical lessons that a student really needs, which, not all teachers are ready to give. But the life lessons are what truly inspired me at certain  junctures. I had several ups and downs in my life. But the low phases reminded me of some of those virtues. They gave me strength and hope,and the ability to take the right decisions. There was a strong sense of being understood and watched over by someone, even though from far. 

My belief that the broad glorification of the teaching profession is wrong, has only become solid over the years. People tend to see them as godly figures without addressing their humanly shortcomings. Now as adults, many of us know the truth. Still, I am grateful to all the gurus among  them, for these pieces of profound wisdom.

I feel these gurus had been getting me prepared for some tough tests. They taught me not just for exams or degrees but for life. Sometimes it's quite surprising I still remember all these. But nothing is more intriguing than the fact that they had been preparing me without my own being aware of it. Probably they themselves may be unaware of the fact that they were being  instrumental in some pupils' lives. In so many ways. Or may be they did. I am only sure of the fact that they knew they were taking responsibility of not students, but humans. I feel this is why and how a guru is different from a teacher.

The teachings of the gurus is an epitome of the beautiful verse from the Holy Bible, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path". I wish every teacher of the present and future go through this and give their students more than an pure scholastic experience. There is nothing that I have personally contributed  here. But I feel obliged to pass on these insights that have been imparted to me. Because we all have so many teachers, but just a few gurus.