Most individuals credit their teachers for shaping them into who they are. The early conditioning and training in the formative years makes quite a difference in our future work lives and also moulding our personalities. Over the years, a teacher has become a sort of a buddy. They are mentors and also a shoulder to cry on when the chips are really down. On the occasion of Teacher's Day, we ask fashion designers to share who they consider their ultimate Guru and why...

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Wendell RodricksMy guru of teaching is life. Each day I learn more by simply living. In lieu of this I will say God or Nature is my biggest teacher. We learn as we grow from what is happening around us.

Payal KhandwalaMy painting professor at Parsons in New York, Bob Levering, was always and will always be my guru. He taught till he was 90, lived a bachelor's life. He was spirited, curious and saw the world with the eyes of a child. He could hold a conversation with his students because he kept himself relevant and youthful. He was immensely talented but he spent his life sharing that wealth without taking himself too seriously, without an ego and with a great sense of humour!

Pria Kataaria PuriMy father has always been and will always be my guru. I lost him two and a half years ago but what he taught me will stay with me forever. He has been my guide, my confidant, my inspiration and is the sole reason behind everything that I am today.  A humble man who believed in hard work and determination, his words and morals are the building blocks of my belief system.  He was my pillar and the only person I have ever looked up to.

Hemant and NanditaGurus, mentors or guides - whatever name you call them with, the people who do justice to all these titles for us are - Malini Ramani and Bina Ramani  I (Nandita) worked with Malini Ramini as a part of my internship and it was a very enriching experience. To work with such an amazing and inspiring person right at the start of my career aided me in picking the right direction. 

Swapnil ShindeThere are way too many for me! From all my professors in my school - St Josephs in Wadala to my professors from NIFT. But the one who majorly impacted me was my professor in NIFT - Rebecca ma'am. For me she is my guru!

NikashaThe Bhagwad Gita for daily living by Eknath Easwaran - it guided me through a very difficult time in my life and I depend on it  each time I need guidance, every time I need clarity.

Sreejith Jeevan It’s difficult for me to call only one person as my guru as I believe everyone and anyone who comes into your life teaches you something valuable. A guru by its meaning is anyone who removes darkness or ignorance. Anyone who adds knowledge to you in whatever small way becomes a guru. A teacher gives you knowledge. A spiritual master gives you wisdom. To me I’m blessed to have wonderful teachers in the form of my friends, family mentors and a spiritual master to take me through the learning in life.

Shruti SanchetiIt is difficult to point out a single person who has taught me a lot because at every stage I had different, qualified and concerned faculties, who imparted excellent vocational skills but a person who taught me a lot about life whether professional, personal or spiritual was my deceased father-in-law the late Shakti Kumar Sancheti. He was a visionary of sorts and he stressed about the importance of qualifications and taught me the role of humility.

Ridhi MehraI would say I have three fashion gurus. The first two would be my mother and my aunt, who have worked on me and trained me to stand where I am today. The other would be the legendary Sabyasachi Mukherjee, whose inspired many like me. He's just perfect in terms of his designs aesthetics and his public persona.

Ujjawal DubeyNikhil Mehra (of Shantanu & Nikhil) is my guru and the greatest mentor. I love the spontaneity and energy he exudes, which also reciprocates in his work. It's brilliance on another level.

Mayank Anand & Shraddha NigamIn the fashion industry, we consider Sandeep Khosla as our guru. All that we know we have learnt from him. Not only is he a fabulous designer, he is also an awesome human being. Thank you, Sandeep, for everything.

Armaan Randhawa and Aiman AghaPlato, who said “That’s what education should be... the art of orientation. Educators should devise the simplest and most effective methods of turning minds around. It shouldn’t be the art of implanting sight in the organ, but should proceed on the understanding that the organ already has the capacity, but is improperly aligned and isn’t facing the right way.”