Whatever happened to the haloed practice of guru-shishya parampara in our country? Why have we lost the Ved Vyasas, Dronacharyas and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnans in the confused milieu of what we call education today?

India has been renowned for its teacher-disciple tradition and bonding. The gurus of yester years laid emphasis on experiential learning and acquiring knowledge through practice. They earned respect and loyalty from their disciples because they were able to impart such specialized knowledge based on their experiences that was not easily acquired through reading books. The teacher or guru was the spiritual guide, teacher and mentor all rolled into one.

One wonders why teachers did not face so much frustration with their students then. Why did they not brutalize, maim and even murder their students in those days? Something is horribly wrong with our society today- we have criminals in the garb of teachers. Every day the so called “teachers” find new ways to brutalize their students- every day we allow them to dehumanize our children.

Are we apathetic because it is not our own child who is being beaten up and terrorized in schools across the nation? When will we realize that social apathy is the root cause of all the social evils that ails our society? When will we have the courage to own up and say all is not well with my world today- my child is withering and languishing in the posh school I slave to send him to?

Parents, please wake up to your child’s dire need for protection and security. Participate in your child’s life. Leave a comfortable space for your child to come to you and vent his/her sorrow, hurt and humiliation. Don’t leave it till it’s too late. Don’t let Rouvanjit Rawla of Calcutta, Hrithik of Noida and Piyush from Jain Heritage Schhol, Bangalore, plight be repeated. The school and its teachers are responsible for the care and education of your children. Demand that from the schools. Create awareness in parents’ associations and take active interest in what is going on inside the portals of the once distinguished schools.

Love, laughter, education and sunshine are a child’s birthright. Let us help the schools in their mission to provide all these to our children. Let us stand by them and create a society where our children can go to school and recite bravely- “where the mind is without fear…”

 Let us join hands and strive to revive the great tradition of

(guru is Brahma, the Absolute) and make our children believe once more that

(in the grace of the guru lies the source of salvation).