Self-discovery by a teacher

• Title : Reflections of a Teacher
• Author : K.L. Nagaraju
• Pages : 230
• Price : Rs. 250
• Year : 2018
• Publisher : Notion Press, Chennai

We learn from Thythiriya Upanishad about the virtue of respecting mother, father, guru and guest, all being perceived as divinity. Even as the outlook of people at large towards teachers being what it is in our times, the author, by recording his own vision of a teacher as mentor through 31 articles and 16 poems (in doggerel style of irregular rhyme and rhythm) has spoken his heart out. Although the scholars of the land who scripted the Upanishads visualised the meaning of the term Guru as friend, philosopher and guide of the student in a lifetime,  that vast meaning seems to have got shrunk for which feature the factors are not difficult to point out. Teachers who leave an indelible imprint in the mind and heart of their students are amidst us notwithstanding some flourishing bad apples among the practitioners. The author’s narratives in simple-to-follow language reflects him as an ideal teacher.

Three functionaries in top posts of the field of education have expressed in their forewords unalloyed adoration to the author for letting the teacher fraternity know how rewarding the profession can be provided the teacher’s focus is on the student’s welfare.

The articles, presented as chapters and also the poems published in newspapers and other occasions earlier bring to bear a deep insight into the heart and soul of the teaching profession. In his epilogue, the author pays rich tribute to his alma mater and all his cohorts in his work-life for helping him to discover himself through his 40-year journey as a teacher.— BRS