Most of the days observed by this country have become what Tagore says are the ‘dry desert sand of dead habit.” We have Independence Day and Republic Day which the youth of today are hardly bothered about since that part of history is so far removed from their consciousness. Indians are not known to be patriotic because we hardly see ourselves as Indians. We are bound by race, religion, caste and region. We in the North Eastern part of India owe our loyalties to our clans and ethnic groups. It is difficult to make an Indian rise above all these barriers. Scholars like Amartya Sen who have lived abroad and know what citizenship is all about speak of multiple identities and being comfortable in these identities with the overriding identity being that of being Indian. But this is easier said than done. Just as the geography changes as we travel so does our psyche. In a similar vein we observe other important days like Teachers’ Day without any introspection. Teachers form a huge community of the deprived. We refer of course to teachers of primary and high schools in this country who receive the worst treatment from society and governments.
Teachers working in private institutions are the worst of the lot. Those in deficit schools are paid by the government but receive their remuneration once in three months. Indeed, school teachers are the worst paid professionals. Yet the irony is that this country has also set aside one day to celebrate the life and contribution of teachers. A society that does not respect its teachers cannot be considered civilised. Yet here we are year after year heaping the same old abuses on teachers and turning their only day of rejoicing into a shadowy pall of gloom. This year teachers have decided to boycott Teachers Day yet again. And the reasons are the same – non payments or delayed payment of their dues. Imagine the plight of retired teachers with nothing to fend for in their old age. A retired teacher who falls sick in his/her old age will be left to the elements. They really retire as paupers. Is this what teachers give the best years of their lives for? Teachers need to form a lobby group like everyone else. They have to develop the clout to take on the Government and put it on the on the mat if need be. Respectful dialogues no longer make sense in this day of hard-boiled negotiations. Perhaps teachers have to change tack in the way they carry forward their struggle for justice.