Srinagar, Sept. 9 -- -A Teacher's Day reflection on reverence, exclusion, and the urgent need for dignity in education

Teaching has always been regarded as a noble, divine, and prophetic profession. Across all religions and civilizations, the teacher occupies the most sacred position-guiding humanity towards truthfulness, kindness, humility, justice, and the courage to resist oppression, inequality, and deceit.

In Hinduism, the Guru is revered as an Avtaar of God; in Buddhism, the Buddha (teacher) is one who shows the truth; and in Islam, the Prophet (PBUH) himself is the supreme teacher of mankind. Truly, teachers are the builders of nations. As the Kothari Commission rightly said, "The destiny of India is being shaped in her classroom...