In Kashmir, the role of teachers was and continues to be crucial because of the region’s recent circumstances, violence, and radicalization. Teachers and schools play a very important role in preventing the radicalization of students, some of whom later suffered the consequences of stone-pelting and the loss of their life and careers.Over the past three decades, we have witnessed that some teachers in Kashmir, not all, but a few, particularly FAT teachers and teachers affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, have allegedly led young students towards terrorism, violence, and radicalization.
I am narrating this account because of what I have witnessed with my own naked eyes. The role of teachers is to build careers and guide the nation in the right direction. However, in Kashmir, we have witnessed the very opposite in some cases.Therefore, the role of teachers is crucial. A teacher can turn an evil person into an angel, just as a negative influence can lead a person towards evil. This is the point I wanted to make.
The same teacher can also transform radicalization into a process of deradicalization through education and guidance in Kashmir. Therefore, the role of a teacher is important not in just one direction but in various other roles and responsibilities that a teacher must fulfil.All other professionals emerge from the teaching profession, and this is where we can realise how important the teaching profession is. A teacher must be among the most competent, dedicated, and honest members of our society, serving as a role model both inside the school and outside it.
Teachers work with young, impressionable minds and can shape them into responsible citizens, professionals, and nation-builders. The foundation of every other profession is laid by a teacher.We have witnessed how education was affected by prolonged turmoil in Kashmir and how schools were targeted by radicalized mobs. During these critical times, the Indian Army came to the rescue and played an important role in safeguarding the future of students. Today, we are witnessing doctors, engineers, and other professionals emerging from these Army goodwill schools, guided by dedicated teachers.
The role of teachers extends far beyond the boundaries of a classroom. They are the architects of the nation’s future, shaping not only the intellectual abilities of students but also their character, values, attitudes, and sense of responsibility. Every doctor, engineer, scientist, administrator, soldier, and national leader begins their journey under the guidance of a teacher. The quality of teachers, therefore, directly influences the quality of future generations and the direction in which a nation progresses.
A teacher’s responsibility is not limited to completing the syllabus, preparing students for examinations, or ensuring academic success. Their greater responsibility is to nurture responsible citizens who understand the values of honesty, discipline, compassion, tolerance, and respect for others. A truly great teacher inspires students to think critically, question constructively, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to society. In a world increasingly driven by technology, artificial intelligence, and material success, teachers must ensure that human values remain at the centre of education.
In a place like Kashmir, where the younger generation holds immense potential, teachers have an even greater responsibility. They can guide young minds towards peace, coexistence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and social progress. They can help students rise above prejudice, overcome challenges, and transform their aspirations into achievements. A teacher who inspires one child may change one family, but a generation of dedicated teachers can transform an entire society.
Nations are not built merely through infrastructure, technology, or economic growth; they are built by the character and capabilities of their people. Teachers lay the foundation of that character. Therefore, investing in teachers, restoring their dignity, and strengthening their moral and professional responsibilities is not merely an educational priority; it is an investment in the future of the nation.
