"Teachers shape our lives": Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla pays tribute to Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

New Delhi [India], September 6 : Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid respect to the great educationist Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and all the teachers for their valuable contributions to society on the occasion of Teacher's Day. Referring to the role of teachers in our lives and in nation-building, he observed that the place of Guru is at the top in the Indian knowledge tradition.
Remembering Guru Vishwamitra, Dronacharya, Kautilya, Kalidas, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Hansraj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Swami Vivekananda, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Birla noted that all these Gurus have enriched our country with their knowledge. All these great men are the light of our Indian knowledge tradition. He further opined that educational institutions of any country determine the direction and future of the country.
"The contributions of a teacher are not limited to just imparting education. Along with educating, teachers also shape our personalities, beliefs, and skills. Teachers shape our lives. Therefore, in our ancient philosophy, Guru is not just a source of education, but he is the architect of character building, personality development, society building, and nation building," Birla said while addressing the students and faculty members of Hansraj College, University of Delhi.
Stressing that the life of Mahatma Hansraj is still a source of inspiration for all of us, Birla urged the students to read the biographies of great personalities like Mahatma Hansraj and take inspiration from them. He urged that students should learn from the struggles of these great personalities and commit themselves to work for improving the lives of people, especially in the field of education.
Observing that India is standing on the verge of the fourth industrial revolution and that in the times to come, progress in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other modern fields will become very important, Birla emphasised that it is everyone's responsibility to keep the country at the forefront in these modern subjects of research.
He further observed that our country has completely changed socially and economically, and this change has been possible due to the Gurus. "India is progressing rapidly today due to the ability, efficiency, and quality of the students they have created generation after generation. In today's rapidly changing world, the role of teachers has become even more important," he added.
"The responsibility of preparing our youth for the challenges and opportunities of the future rests on the shoulders of teachers. It is only under the guidance of teachers that our students will not only learn to adapt themselves to the changes taking place but will also lead this revolution of change," Birla noted.
He said that India is developed today because of the emphasis on education since ancient times. "At present, the youth of India are leading in almost all fields, given the global situation and India's growing prowess in the field of education. Very soon, India's youth will lead the economic progress of developed countries," observed Birla.
Speaking on the history and educational journey of Hansraj College, Birla recalled that Hansraj College, established in 1948, has achieved a high position in the field of education and has made its mark as the top institution of the country.
"Over the past decades, Hansraj College has continuously promoted research and innovation and has created an academic environment that promotes value-based holistic education and personal development. Hansraj College will continue to play a leading role in nation-building in accordance with its glorious heritage," he said.
Birla was bestowed with the Mahatma Hansraj Award. Notably, Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal was present at the event.