Today is National Education Day, a day that India celebrates the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India. On this important day, HH Param Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji beautifully shares:

“Education may bring earning, but learning comes from values or sanskaras. With education, we can instill in our children the core human values – our sanskaras – that inspire them to be leaders and problem solvers so that they know that no matter what challenge is in front of them they are the master key. Whether it’s poverty, climate change, lack of WASH, gender equality or any of the global goals, together they are the solution.

“We entrust this great responsibility to our wonderful teachers and gurus! Teachers and gurus play a very important role in shaping our future and what kind of humans we will be. A teacher is one that gives us speed as well as direction; one who, in the age of Internet, tells us never to forget our Innernet; one who reminds us to stay connected to those values and ethics that help our children become leaders. A true teacher is one who guides us by their Divine example. Our Mother gives us life, but our teachers teach us how to live. They give us not just a livelihood, but a life.

“Along with getting a good education, our children should also be good human beings, filled with love and compassion for everyone. Our teachers can impart this wisdom on our children, and show them that the true meaning in life is giving and serving others, because giving is truly living and living is giving. And our teachers can share that it is not ‘What for me?’ but ‘What through me?,’ because this is the true nature of service to God and to humanity.

“On this National Education Day, let us focus on the support that our teachers and our schools need to develop their full potential, so that they may help our children to do the same!”