Every year on September 5, India commemorates Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary and celebrates National Teachers’ Day. However, on the other hand, as a school or college-going student, on this day, we praise our teachers, write them greeting cards, greet them with flowers and chocolates, or rather say we prefer our own way to thank our dear teachers for making us what we are today.

Teachers are more than just educators—they are mentors, guides, and role models. I was fortunate to have such knowledgeable and great teachers in my life—some taught me lessons from the book while others taught me lessons about life, and they still inspire me to work harder. The job of a teacher is not easy. As Acharya Chanakya rightly said, “A teacher is never ordinary; destruction and creation are in his hands." A teacher never gets tired of clearing your concepts and will invest everything just to make you succeed in life.

One of the teachers who has inspired the lives of the millions of students is the late Prof. Dr. (Col.) A Balasubramanian, the founder chancellor of Sri Balaji University, Pune (SBUP). He used to put his heart and soul into making his students the finest leaders. He actually stayed along with his students in the hostel so that he could be available to them 24 hours. His students fondly call him Bala sir. He developed a strong connection with his students to the extent that any student coming to him became like his own child. The same love and compassion are being showered by the present SBUP Chancellor, Prof. Pramanandhan Balasubramanian.

Apart from the professional teachers, there are also people who play the role of a teacher in our lives—the ones who we call mentors and role models. Fortunately, I have such teachers who have guided me, the lost soul, in the right direction. Whenever I’m in doubt, I turn to them for guidance.

I heard from a known educationalist that teaching is a profession which needs passion, empathy, and selflessness to join. And, to an extent, it is actually true, because they play an important role in shaping a good human being. Teachers do not care about their well-being or benefits, but what they actually care about is their students. Every year, a new batch comes, and the teacher works hard to shape their personalities and then he empowers them to take flights like a mother bird does to its hatchlings and make a difference in the world. Our teachers dedicate their entire lives for us. For them, the growth and success of their students is a true measure of their achievements.

Life without teachers is actually meaningless, because we rely on them as guiding lights who make us capable of choosing the right path.