The best teachers don’t give you the answers. They just point the way and let you make your own choices, your own mistakes. That way you get all the glory you truly deserve - Anonymous
A teacher student relationship is one which most of us have the privilege of experiencing during our academic lives with not just our teacher but with everyone who has knowledge to impart. The journey begins in our mother’s womb, she’s after all our first and foremost teacher and that’s our very first experience as a student. We don’t necessarily see this one as a student teacher relationship, but a relationship of love. As babies we’re after all biologically programmed to love and only love, and a mother is wired to not just love but teach.
As little tots this journey moves forward to a Teacher – Student relationship when we first step into school, it’s a child’s second home, a protected bubble and the teacher is the centre of this world. Smart, pretty and equipped to answer just about everything a little one wants to know, she becomes a crucial and integral part of our lives, which not only shapes us but is largely responsible for who we are today.
There are two educations: One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live - John Adams
The enthralling tale of the 3000-year-old Mahabharataillustrates the teacher – student relationships beautifully. The tale highlights the pivotal role played by Krishna and Dronacharya as teachers in the life of Arjuna. One cannot but forget the role Karna and his desire to learn in this great epic, the immense respect he has for his lord Parshuram. The sagaimparts knowledge with liberal views that can be applied in contemporary learning and teaching situations.
Dronacharya and Arjun:
Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.
The concept of Gurukuls were very common those days, royalty sent their children away from the luxuries of life at a tender age to learn warfare and administration from learned teachers. The Guild system meant off springs followed the family professions so the less fortunate ones did not have the luxury of learning from gurukuls.
Arjun with his brothers began his journey at a gurukul, his teacher was the great Dronacharya, they struck a bond much to the displeasure of other students, including the guru’s own son. Why did the guru favour Arjun? Was a question that nagged everyone. Dronacharya set high standards for students and did not settle for anything less, a trait of all good teachers. A teacher’s behaviour towards the students is based on what they see and how they process their observation. But not all things can be seen, some are experienced with time.
Children those days were taught to build on their inherent skills, Arjun was meant to be a world-class archer based on his guru’s observations. Avoid the disturbances around and set your priorities right was the first lesson imparted to Arjun by his guru, strong focus motivates learners to prioritise. Arjun proved and showcased these qualities time and again by excelling in each and every task assigned to him. His dedication to learn his craft speaks volumes of his desire to achieve his goal.
Saving his Guru from the jaws of a killer crocodile without fearing for his life is how Arjun proved his dedication and love for his teacher, needless to say he was the teacher’sfavourite. This camaraderie worked both ways, Arjun immersed himself in the learning process to excel as a student and his guru imparted every bit of knowledge he had to bring the best out of his favourite student whilst proving there was no teacher like him. As teachers we see the scales tipping towards students who show tremendous dedication, interest and focus instinctively.
Arjun and Krishna
“Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops” – Henry Brook Adams
There is always more than that meets the eye when Krishna is involved, he is said to be the one who enjoys life like a person enjoys a game.
His relationship with Arjun was not just that of a family member, a friend, a mentor and a guide, but something more powerful and greater than that, he taught him valuable lessons that only a teacher who can see beyond conventional teachingways. Through a deft description of the instances of life he enlightened Arjun through chronicles and highlighted the importance of Karma during the battle of Mahabharata.
One of the biggest lessons taught by Krishna was Commitment towards your goals without deviating regardless of personal relations. Learning needs to be approached strategically and this can be made possible by managing time effectively, it is from Krishna that Arjun learned the art of communicating tactfully without prejudice. He also learned the power of negotiation and motivation and the application of these traits at the right time and place. Being down to earth regardless of who or what you are was one of the biggest lessons we learn from this epic.
Karna
The capacity to learn is a gift, the ability to learn is a skill, the willingness to learn is a choice – Brian Herbert
If you’re not willing to learn, no one can help you but if you’re determined to learn no one can stop you, a classic example of this belief was Karna.
His birth as a charioteer’s son did not offer him the privilege of learning in a gurukul. The extremely bright and talentedKarna, discovered his gifts at a very young age and wanted his skills to scale great heights. The mighty yet kind-hearted Karna was known for his generosity, he was the paragon of kindness and loyalty.
Despite strong resistance from his parents he was determined to gain knowledge but was sadly turned away by most citing his low birth. His journey clearly illustrates his desire to learn, so powerful was his thirst for knowledge that he lied his way to Guru Parshuram’s ashram to learn the art of warfare and administration. He is the epitome of what persistent efforts to learn can help you achieve. In order to prove his abilities and to fight against the discrimination, he single-handedly attempted to go against the powerful during that period with his knowledge. To date he is cherished by the society as the best archer to ever walk the planet.
Vengeance, Justice and recognition come at a price whichsadly Karna had to pay for with his life to achieve recognitionand respect.
Knowledge know no boundaries and everyone has the right to learn regardless of their background and origin, a brilliant and liberal thought process was aptly highlighted more than thousands of years ago.
Our job is to not prepare students for something, our job is to help students prepare themselves for anything. - A.J Julian
-Sharada Kore
Visiting Faculty, ELTIS