Most of us have fond memories of our teachers. With our interests in mind, they push us towards excellence. They prepare us to take on the world and mould us into responsible adults. In short, they have a profound impact on our lives. This Teacher’s Day, some eminent personalities talk to Swati Sharma about their favourite educators.
Forever indebted
I would love to bond with my teachers at every opportunity. Meeting up with them is a way to pay our respects and express our gratitude to them, for they have inculcated ideals and values in us. We have grown up to be what we are today because of them. We remain forever indebted to them. My salutations to all teachers on this day for their role as nation builders.
— Gautam Sawang, Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada
Remembered for life
Teachers are the ones who inpire, mould and make us who we are. They brighten a child’s mind and encourage learning and thirst for knowledge. A great teacher, who has changed your outlook is always revered and remembered for life. I do try and meet them on Guru Poornima or on Teachers Day to pay my respects.
— Dr Swapna Yendru, Consultant gynaecologist, Swapna health care
Learn more as a teacher
Difficult to come to terms with the fact that you’re treated as a teacher! The flip side is that you learn more as a ‘teacher’. Bhaskar Shewalkar, whom I fondly call as Bhaskar Bhai has always been someone whom I looked up to. You’ve truly arrived as a sishya when your guru starts depending on you rather than the other way around.
— Vinay Varma, theatre artist
Token of gratitude
I am what I am today because of my teachers. I instituted an oration, eight years ago, in the name of my professor Dr Suvarna Ramaswamy in our annual Indian Society of Perinatology and Reproductive Biology chapter as a token of my gratitude.
— Dr Sasikala Kola, Gynecologist, Obstetrician and Infertility Specialist
Influence beyond school
A good teacher’s influence is not restricted to school and college years, it stays with you throughout your life. I was fortunate to have such teachers. I remember them with gratitude.
— Rachel Chatterjee, Chairperson AP Red Cross Society
The teacher’s pet
I had a special relationship with my teachers. I was the teacher’s pet in school. I am grateful for all their words of encouragement, for all the time they gave me, for teaching me good values and nurturing me. I was clay in their hands and the shape I have taken today is of their making.
— Soumya Mishra, IGP CID
