Witnessing the evolving nature of the guru-shishya relationship

Those who educate children well are more to be honoured than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.”

With the changing times the relationship between a student and teacher has also evolved.

The traditional guru-shishya relationship has fast moved into a more professional approach where teachers and students, while respecting each other, are also highly disengaged beyond their responsibilities. Every year that my son moved to a higher grade I used to be disappointed on the last day when he would come home happily without an ounce of regret that he would miss his teacher.

All he would worry about is not meeting his friends during the summer break. I used to wonder what happened to the bond that we used to share with our teacher, the hugs and tears we shared at the end of each academic year with our teachers. Having a favourite teacher above all else? He would just shrug off the question when asked.

This year though I saw a different side of my son which I never knew existed, I saw him flowering under the guidance of his teacher. I saw willingness in him to excel in areas where he was weak. He admitted that he had to work hard on his handwriting and made a conscious effort to do so, he started believing that giving up easily without trying was not an option. His teacher reinforced the belief in him that everything can get better and the weakness he had could turn to his biggest strength.

As a mother whenever I went to a Parent-Teacher Meeting I repeatedly heard the same problems about his handwriting, his aggression — not that he was a bully — and his concentration in a subject being low though his grades were excellent. This year the PTM’s were different too, while his teacher did share similar views she also  took it upon herself to change some of his habits saying it was a challenge she was willing to accept.

At the end of this academic year there is only one word that comes to my mind for her and that is  – Respect. She did manage to get him to improve his grades, his handwriting and most importantly his eating habits.

This is not to say that the other teachers were not at par, they all were great and fabulous guides to a curious child. This year when he came home on the last day of school, for the first time ever, I saw him crying, crying for his teacher, feeling unhappy that she will not continue as a teacher to him in the next academic year. No amount of cajoling made him get out of that mood the entire day. But as they say change is a constant, and the teachings I told him to carry forever. I told him the biggest gift he can give to his favourite teacher is to emulate whatever she wants him to stand for in life.

In a world where we are increasingly disconnecting emotionally with people beyond our immediate family and circle of friends it is heartwarming to see that some things never change in a student’s life. I am glad my son found such a bond with his teacher. I began this article with a heartfelt and true quote from Aristotle which I strongly believe in and hope to see my children be blessed with such teachers and such genuine relationships in their lives. A big salute to all our teachers who have strived for excellence in the lives they’ve touched.

Priyanka Chaturvedi is a media recruitment consultant, full-time mum, part-time social worker, voracious reader and a blogger