National Awards for Teachers

"Teachers' role in Nation Building"

I am indeed delighted to participate in the Teachers award function. I realize it is very important to recognize teachers from different schools. My greetings to all the awardees, who have worked consistently for many years, to achieve this recognition.

I would consider it appropriate to hear the experiences of some of you during this occasion which will enable other teachers to emulate in their profession.

Let me narrate one of my experiences

Put the students, decades ahead

As young students, we had the opportunity at St. Joseph's College witnessing a scene, a unique, divine looking personality walking through the college campus every morning teaching Mathematics BSc (Honours) and MA (Mathematics) students. Young students looked at him with awe and respect, a personality symbolizing our own culture. When he walked, knowledge radiated all around. The great personality was, Prof.T.Totadri Iyengar, the great teacher. At that time, 'Calculus Srinivasan' was my mathematics teacher. Calculus Srinivasan used to talk about Prof. Totadri Iyengar with deep respect. During those days, he and Prof. Totadri Iyengar had an understanding to have an integrated class by Prof. Totadri Iyengar for first year B.Sc. (Hons) and first year B.Sc. (Physics). I had the opportunity to attend his classes, particularly on the subjects of modern algebra, statistics and also once I heard him teaching complex variables. When we were in the BSc first year, Calculus Srinivasan used to select top ten students to the Mathematics Club of St. Joseph's to where Prof. Totadri Iyengar used to give lecture series. One day, in 1952, I still remember, he gave a one hour lecture on ancient mathematicians and astronomers of India and introduced three great mathematician and astronomers. For nearly one hour he spoke. The lecture is still ringing in my ears. I was introduced to the pride of the nation: pioneers in astronomy and mathematics (4th to 20th century) Aryabhata, Bhaskara and Ramanujam who gave to the world, the zero, computed the orbit period of the earth around the sun and discovered many stunning concepts in number theory. These incidents and knowledge became the foundation for my education, learning with hope and value system. My teachers of primary, secondary and college education had put me a few decades ahead. This was indeed the vision. I am confident there may be many parallels in this gathering, let us emulate them. How can the students be shaped as nation builders and schools become laboratories for such type of mission?

I had an interesting experience of meeting Vice chancellors at Hyderabad and suggesting certain questions for discussion. A professor of Texas A&M University Dr. Robert Slater, an expert in Education and Human resource development, further took up the question from the media, analyzed and sent me an email. Later we met, discussed and evolved the capacities for nation building. This trait of analysis is note worthy. Let it spread among the teaching community.

Conclusion

Good teachers can generate enlightened human beings with unique characteristics of moral value and professional capabilities. Teachers can induce the confidence and will power among the students for realizing their dreams. Every one of us in this planet creates the page in human history irrespective of who he/she is. Your experiences highlighted today are the dots in human history with life and light. This light, let it light many lamps.

My best wishes to all of you.