In Vedic India teacher used to occupy the highest position in the society. They are the Guru and they have position that is even higher than that of a king. The king used to wash the legs of the Guru or the teacher to show respect. But with the change in time everything changes and so after almost thousands and thousands of years in this post independence era the profession of teacher is a questionable profession. Questionable because India is a multi lingual state and have been ruled by foreign power for almost 250 years. So the task of the teacher was difficult and not only that it was very essential.
What is the main role of a teacher?
"· A teacher should make their student feel for their country. Their students should love the country and they should feel that their country is not less than any country and is in a sense greater than many countries. The students, and the future of this country should have this feeling only then they will devote themselves in the development and betterment of the country. And this feeling can be only aroused by a teacher, among his/her students. And this is one of the main roles of a teacher.
Teacher should impart equality among the students.
"· India is a country of lots of people of different religion, caste and linguistic group. From the year, 1947 India is facing communal violence, and there are also problems like keeping distance with untouchables. In a country like India the main job of a teacher is to remove evils like this and communal violence. Only a teacher can promote equality among his/her student. And only a teacher can make national integration possible. A teacher can only remove the old and unwanted prejudices about religion and caste and enlighten the student. The teacher should play a vital role in strengthen the dignity and unity of India.
Drawbacks of the present teachers in India are:
"· At present the teachers who are imparting education to their students, among them some are not playing the ideal role of a teacher. To them the teaching profession is just like the other profession in the society. They teach only their subjects to their students and nothing else to their students. They work only for the money and they do not have any responsibility in creating a new and a good future generation for India. They neither think of India's economic or either of her spiritual growth. And it is an unfortunate thing for India. This is the reason because of which the India is not having a qualitative population. India 's population is quantitative and to make it qualitative India needs a role model and a teacher can be an ideal role model for the students. Most of the times the student copy the teachers and the teachers are next to the parents.
Only a teacher can make students an individual who not only thinks about his/her own individual aim but also thinks about the development of the society. This is the most important job and role of a teacher.