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On Teachers’ Day, The Gurus Are On The Streets : Who Will Shape Our Future ?
Bhubaneswar: There is perhaps no greater irony on Teachers’ Day than seeing the very people we call the architects of our future sitting on the streets to fight for their rights. While educational institutions across Odisha and the country are celebrating Teachers’ Day with flowers, felicitations, gifts and heartfelt tributes to teachers, a different picture is emerging from the heart of the state capital, Bhubaneswar, where teachers and women teachers have been staging a protest on Gandhi Marg for nearly 20 days. The protesting educators are demanding their rights and have warned that the agitation could be intensified if their concerns are not addressed.
On Teachers’ Day, they have also announced a major gathering on Gandhi Marg, with thousands of students, parents and school committee members expected to join the teachers in support of their demands. The situation has raised an emotional and uncomfortable question: If those who build the future of our children are forced to sit on the streets, what does it say about the future we are trying to build? Teachers are not merely employees of educational institutions; they are the people who shape young minds, nurture dreams, teach values and prepare generations to face the world.
From classrooms in villages to institutions in the capital, their contribution reaches far beyond textbooks and examinations. Yet, on a day dedicated to celebrating their contribution, many educators are spending their time under the open sky, demanding that their voices be heard. The ongoing protest has also raised concerns about the disruption of education, as prolonged agitation can affect classroom teaching and ultimately impact students.
At the same time, the teachers’ concerns and demands deserve serious consideration, with meaningful dialogue needed to determine what can realistically be resolved and implemented. Respect for teachers should not remain limited to ceremonial celebrations, bouquets and speeches; it must also be reflected in the way their grievances are heard and addressed.
Every administrator, government official, politician and public representative has, at some point in life, been shaped by a teacher, making the dignity of educators a matter of collective responsibility. On this Teachers’ Day, the hope is that the government will come forward for constructive discussions with the teachers gathered on Gandhi Marg and find a workable path towards resolving their concerns before the agitation grows further. A teacher’s rightful place is in the classroom, shaping the minds and destinies of future generations not on the streets, fighting simply to have their voices heard.
