To be righteous or carefree-what is the role of a teacher?

 

It is thin line indeed between being righteous and unnecessarily strict. When teachers follow discipline and righteous path,it  will lead to better achievement s in the students career. Considering that the student equally puts effort and hard work .

Being righteous doesn't mean to impose unnecessary impositions on the students. In an institution,where there are post graduation, post doctoral  fellowships and PhD's it is imperative for the authorities and teachers to maintain discipline and follow the rules so that the quality of education is good. In an era where there are innumerable private universities and cut throat competitions amongst them, the onus is on the institution to upgrade the educational level. This can only.be achieved by delivering the best knowledge to the  students. 

To provide a good quality of education,the institution will lay down certain  rules and regulations and will also continuously  monitor the progress of the students work.

The responsibility is on the teachers to provide good quality education to the students so that they can lead a successful life. 

Often when such strict regulations are put up by the authorities the students are unhappy about it. As a middle man between institution and the students the teacher has to convince the students about the importance of quality and meritorious work for their future. Such selfless acts on the part of the teachers will make the students realise their folly and they will work hard.

Students are of all kinds. There will be some studious students ,who will put in all the effort and perform well in the academics .They will also be regular in attending the lectures , and take the guidance from the mentors and teachers.Then there are others who have come just to obtain the degree .These students especially will object when they are adviced to come regularly to the classes and do quality thesis work or dissertation or write good quality articles so that they can published in indexed  journals. So, it is the teachers job to educate such students about hard work, dedication and quality work. Many a times students cannot look beyond the three years of their post graduation period. They are oblivious to what future holds for them and what is expected 

Post graduation degree or getting the phd is not just about gaining speciality in that particular subject or disease. It is about overall growth to be achieved in that student. Like I had mentioned  in my previous blog in the month of August 2024,the student has to be a master in diagnosing and  treating various diseases according to the his speciality, should be able to present good quality papers confidently , have orientation towards research and should  gain expertise  in writing good quality scientific articles. These are the basic requirements in addition to this the student can always  learn from traditional Vaidyas and upgrade his knowledge.

Hence, it is prudent on the part of the institution and the teachers to follow certain norms and regulations for the betterment of the students. Ultimately students do appreciate in future when they have benefited from their institutions.

Dr Preetham Pai 

Professor,

Bharati Vidyapeeth (deemed to be) university college of Ayurved, Pune 

9am-5pm

Dr Pai's Atri Ayurveda clinic and panchakarma centre, undri

6pm-8pm

Contact no:8149005256

Is empathy lost on us?

        India, as a nation, is developing faster with a rapidly growing economy. We are the world's fourth-largest economy. In the cities, most people lead a comfortable life with good education and a well-paying job. In metropolitan cities, the cost of living is extraordinarily high. Housing, education, healthcare, transport, and even leisure come at a premium. Hence, in the quest to acquire a financially comfortable life, people work for a larger number of hours. Ambition turns into compulsion. Gradually, life gets divided into two rigid compartments — weekdays and weekends. Weekdays are for relentless work, deadlines, and targets. Weekends are reserved for spending — dining out, shopping, short trips — almost as compensation for the stress endured during the week. Fun is scheduled. Rest is calculated. Joy is postponed. 

        The search for a better and more luxurious lifestyle has turned many of us into arrogant and rude people. In the whole process, we have lost empathy. Empathy is a quality that is ingrained in every human being. But the pursuit of happiness has made us lose touch with our fellow human beings.

I realised this during my recent visit to Sri Lanka. Even in cities like Colombo, Weligama, and Bentota, people were very friendly and trustworthy. The country is going through a bad economic phase. People are struggling to earn a living, and the cost of living is also high. Since the majority of the goods are imported from neighbouring countries, heavy taxes are levied on them, making it costlier for common people.

The civilians were so grateful when we bought goods from them. I could see the joy in their faces even when only one material was bought. The shopkeepers were glad that their goods were getting sold. Difficult situations make people humble. It is humbling and touching to see them still in touch with humanity.

This is something that we have lost in India, especially in the cities. Even though Indians are friendly and helpful in nature, somewhere along the line, we have lost touch with humanity. Hence, for us, everything is a transaction, and there should be a profit involved. Investing in empathy doesn't gain us interest, hence we don't entertain it. It is important to search within ourselves where true happiness lies, and hence, work towards it.

True happiness does not reside in luxury apartments, branded possessions, or extravagant weekends. Money undoubtedly provides comfort and security. It can buy experiences, education, and healthcare. But it cannot purchase inner contentment. If we are disconnected from ourselves and from others, no amount of wealth can fill that void. The constant search for “more” becomes endless. Each achievement gives temporary satisfaction, followed by another desire. And so, the cycle continues — work hard during the week, spend on the weekend, repeat.

Perhaps the real question we must ask ourselves is: what are we truly chasing?

Happiness is not postponed to weekends. It is found in small weekday conversations, in shared meals, in kindness to strangers, in gratitude for simple blessings, celebrating the success of friends and colleagues. It lies in slowing down enough to notice another person’s struggle. It lies in helping without calculating benefit. It lies in reconnecting with the core of our humanity.

Development and empathy need not be opposites. Economic growth should not come at the cost of emotional poverty. A nation progresses not only through GDP and infrastructure but also through compassion and social harmony.

As cities grow taller, may our hearts grow wider.

Because at the end of the day, what we remember are not the profits made or targets achieved — but the moments when we felt connected, understood, and human.

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 Dr Preetham Pai 

Professor,

Bharati Vidyapeeth (deemed to be) university college of Ayurved, Pune 

9am-5pm

Dr Pai's Atri Ayurveda clinic and panchakarma centre, undri

6pm-8pm

Contact no:8149005256

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