The community of
teachers in fact represents the great Guru
tradition, which was considered as the backbone of society at least in the East
–India in particular. So many distinctive examples of that tradition are still
given. It is obvious. The role and contribution of the Guru tradition remained vital in fall or rise, misfortune or
fortune or poverty-prosperity of individuals and society. It remains so even
today –the community of teachers plays the vital role in the making of life of
individuals and society. Further, the importance of contribution of the Guru –a teacher can be well observed
from the following Shloka, in which
he seems representing the triumvirate –Brahma [the Creator], Vishnu [the Protector
or Sustainer] and Shiva [the Annihilator]; the Guru emerges as the Supreme Authority –God, Ishwara or Paramatma, that
is formless:
“Gurur Brahma, Gurur
Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwarah
Gurur Saakshaat
Para-Brahman, Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah”
Meaning thereby:
“The
Guru is Brahma [the god of Creation], the Guru is Vishnu [the
god of Protection or Sustenance], the Guru is Shiva [the god of Annihilation]; my salutation
to such a Guru, who is verily the Supreme God [Niraakara].”
Furthermore,
glorifying the height and value of a Guru
he has been declared a guide to lead to the supreme knowledge –the pathway to
God:
“Akhanda
Mandalaakaaram, Vyaaptam Yenam Charaacharam
Tatpadam
Darshitam Yena, Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha”
It
means: “A
Guru can guide us to the supreme knowledge of that, which pervades all the
living and non-living beings in the entire Universe –Brahman. I salute such a Guru.”
After quoting these
two Shlokas, nothing more is required
to mention about the importance, place, stature and role of the Guru –a teacher. Moreover, examples of so
many Rishis –the great gurus
like Tirthankara Mahavira, Shakyamuni Gautama –the Light of Asia and
Adi Shankaracharaya –the Jagatguru in particular, who liked the
word Acharya or teacher for them, are
well before us.
Now, the subject
of discussion in hand is the Professional
Development of Teachers. A teacher, as mentioned already, represents the Guru and if his personality is developed
as professional, it may seem for a while astonishing and incongruous. It is
because the word professional is generally used for one who is paid to
undertake a special task to complete. The term professional in simple words elucidates
the work for salary, it does not
matter what particular category of professional is there. First, doctors
–physicians and surgeons both, engineers, legal representatives –lawyers and advocates,
architects, army-men and police-men were included in the list of professionals.
Later, accountants, nurses of hospitals, planners, people in the field of
science and technology, artists, players, social workers and even educators got
them enlisted as professionals –teachers who represent the great Guru tradition in particular. Now, the
community of teachers also seems categorically appearing within the scope of
the word professional.
But, as this
development is the outcome of continuously changing situations; or in other
words, it is the upshot of inevitable process of change, it should not surprise
anyone, and at least to me it is well observable.
Further, the
word professional is used more or less to explicate determination, promptness,
proficiency and sincerity of one. It reflects skill of one in some particular
work. It signifies empowerment. Therefore, it emphatically entertains high
hopes for accomplishing the task with a sense of duty and responsibility. A
professional by applying his mind –intellect and with his soul force
accomplishes the task in a planned manner. Due to this, many professionals
emerge as trust-worthy and they are considered the best cooperatively. Therefore,
if the word professional is connected to the community of teachers, and it further
becomes the basis of teachers’ development, it categorically creates a nice
situation. Moreover, it can pave the way for a pleasant and welfaristic state.
Hence, the
subject professional development of teachers becomes significant on the one
hand and on the other the worth and importance of discussion on a subject like
this multiplies many folds. How should the community of teachers in current
perspective –as per the demand of time and space apply its intellect with
sincerity and firm-determination for the welfare of one and all, the discussion
should suggest something concrete in this regard. Not only this, many adaptable
and exemplary points must come out from the open and broad discussion as
guidelines –for younger in particular. Hopefully, this discussion will not only
get success, but will prove to be a milestone simultaneously. While wishing for
a grand success of the event, I venture to lay stress on one special thing.
When we enter in
an open and wide discussion on different aspects related to the main theme in
hand and that too with the sole purpose of the welfare of one and all, keep
morality always as the nuclei. Morality is, in fact, essential and inevitable
for the proper conduction of the system –from individual life to the universal
as it plays the foremost role in performing duties and responsibilities at all
levels and in all walks of life. It is also morality that safeguards those values, which ascertain the
identity of a human being. Furthermore, morality leads the humanity to
righteous acts. Without morality no one can perform her or his duties in real
sense, no one can take the righteous path –to follow high human values in
particular. All deeds in the absence of morality remain unfair, unjust and
unwelfaristic and thus they lead to the fall of humanity. Hence, the importance
of morality in life cannot slightly be undervalued. Rather, the significance of
morality in the field of education, in a state when the community of teachers is
considered as the mirror of society in particular, becomes evident in itself.
I should have no
doubt in my mind that all teachers-educators, professors, scholars and subject-specialists
who are the part of this worthy and timely discussion will certainly keep this
point related to morality in mind. They will take concrete initiatives for a
revolution in the field of education through this event on professional
development of teachers.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Note:
This piece is the essence of a keynote address by Dr. Ravindra Kumar at an
international seminar organized by the Learning Community at Lucknow [U. P.],
India.
