THE COUNTRY’S FUTURE IN THE HANDS OF THE TEACHER

Thus spoke an ex President
And the press reported it faithfully!
It has been said before!

Glory to the teacher,
who shapes against all odds
a person, a personality, a leader!

But, May I differ? I a teacher of 20 years!
May I speak, and
break the conspiracy of tame silence?

When showered with such words,
It is churlish to protest,
But protest I must

Lofty words hide truths
and shameful facts, always
And this is no exception

Have you hear it said,
The most important things in life cannot be taught?
And that life teaches in strange places?

Why then the teacher,
why the good sounding words
of importance and value?

Is it because, like a kept vassal of a king
needs to be acknowledged,
his loyalty sealed again?

Is it because he handles the sorrow
of values loftily spoken
But betrayed in daily acts!

Not by a few, but many, may be most
Live by deeds
That they don’t wish for their young!

And then they send their children
to teachers to learn values
to lead a good life.

The teacher decides each day
if he will engage with the tower of corruption
and lull the minds of the young!

Or, will he stand away and point
to a way of life, unsupported by parents
who send their children?

If truth be the basis,
and there is little else,
One can bank on

Our history, our experience
and the sorrow we carry
of man’s follies on earth

Then the teacher’s dilemma stands stark,
and he stands alone
exposed and unarmed!

Does he speak to the children, the youth
a truth they do not see in their lives
and invite the wrath of society?

Does he speak the truth, a nourishing truth
of the sordidness of human greed and ambition
and invite retribution?

Does he speak and run the risk
of losing his job and becoming
an outcaste whom no one will touch?

Does he echo the values of the marketplace
the idiom of success
assured shelter, food and clothing

… There will be token respect accorded
as to toothless elders
Harmless and impotent

And eulogies will be sung
in lofty words, bestowing
a kept legitimacy, a part of the corruption!

If truly the words mean something
will the village grow the child
by example?

Do the parents love their offspring enough
to forsake gold and land and fame
for right, dignified conduct?

Does society uphold
egality for all,
including those with little resource?

Do people speak truth
and act the way
they want their children to?

If not, the words mean little!
An invitation to humiliation
and a warning!

You have to support this edifice!
Stray away and see what happens!
Beware, O teacher!

So stand away I must
from the lofty eulogization of the teacher
and speak a different truth

The real teacher will not teach,
as there is little to be taught
but individuals may learn…

If truth be told
lofty words hide much corruption, uncertainty,
bestowal conceals hollow intentions.


G.Gautama
9 Aug 2010