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What Are We ‘Teaching’ India? A Teachers’ Day Special

By Sr. Rekha Punia, UMI

On Sep 3, 2026

Greater Noida (03/09/2026): On Teachers’ Day, while we celebrate educators and acknowledge their contribution to shaping young minds, perhaps it is time to ask ourselves a deeper and more uncomfortable question: What are we really teaching our children?

A few days ago, I went for an ultrasound as part of a routine health check-up. During my conversation with the doctor, she shared something that left me deeply disturbed. She said that a significant number of people visiting her diagnostic centre were being diagnosed with cancer.

Then she added, almost helplessly, “I think one of the major causes is adulterated food.”

Her words stayed with me.

She spoke about the alarming ease with which food adulteration appears to be taking place—from milk and fruits to everyday food products—and how rules, regulations and inspections can sometimes be bypassed.

But what disturbed me even more than the act of adulteration itself was the mindset behind it.

Is Adulteration More Than a Food Problem?

A few days later, on Independence Day, we had a distinguished doctor and physiotherapist as our Chief Guest. During our conversation, he repeatedly said something that suddenly connected the dots for me:

“In India, from childhood, we seem to teach only one lesson: How to make money… how to become rich.”

Perhaps food adulteration is not merely a food-related problem. Perhaps it is also a problem of values.

We adulterate milk when profit becomes more important than another person’s health.

We adulterate food when greed becomes stronger than conscience.

We adulterate truth when convenience becomes more important than character.

And sometimes, sadly, we may even adulterate education when marks, ranks, jobs and salaries become more important than developing responsible and compassionate human beings.

What Are We Teaching Our Children About Success?

Recently, while visiting a small town in the United Kingdom, I was struck by a different way of life. There appeared to be a certain emphasis on quality, respect for rules, gentleness in interactions and balance in everyday life.

People seemed to have time to breathe, smile, greet one another and live—not merely compete.

It made me wonder:

What kind of India are we educating our children to build?

This Teachers’ Day, perhaps we need to ask ourselves a question more important than, “How well are my students performing?”

We should ask:

“What kind of people are my students becoming?”

Can our classrooms produce brilliant minds without producing greedy hearts?

Can we teach ambition without teaching exploitation?

Can we teach success without making money the only definition of success?

Can we prepare children not merely to earn a living, but also to live a meaningful life?

Education Must Go Beyond Marks and Careers

Perhaps the India of tomorrow will not be transformed only through stricter laws, more inspections or harsher punishments.

True transformation will begin when conscience becomes stronger than greed.

And that transformation can begin quietly—in a classroom.

A teacher who teaches honesty when nobody is watching helps build India.

A teacher who teaches respect for the environment helps build India.

A teacher who teaches a child that another person’s well-being matters helps build India.

A teacher who celebrates integrity as much as achievement helps build India.

This Teachers’ Day, therefore, perhaps we need to broaden our curriculum.

Let us teach competence, but also conscience.

Let us teach ambition, but also accountability.

Let us teach success, but also service.

Let us teach rights, but also responsibility.

Let us teach children how to earn, but also how to share.

Let us teach them how to compete, but also how to care.

The India We Build Begins in the Classroom

The India we dream of cannot be built merely by producing better-qualified people. It needs better-educated people—individuals who possess not only knowledge and skills, but also character, compassion and a sense of responsibility towards society.

Perhaps the most important lesson we can teach our children is beautifully simple:

“Don’t just become someone who makes a living. Become someone who makes it worth living—for everyone.”

That could be the beginning of a healthier India.

A kinder India.

And perhaps, a truly educated India.

Happy Teachers’ Day!

— Sr. Rekha Punia, UMI

प्रिय पाठकों एवं दर्शकों, प्रतिदिन भारत सरकार , दिल्ली सरकार, राष्ट्रीय एवं दिल्ली राजनीति , दिल्ली मेट्रो, दिल्ली पुलिस तथा दिल्ली नगर निगम, NDMC, नोएडा, ग्रेटर नोएडा, यमुना एक्सप्रेसवे क्षेत्र की ताजा एवं बड़ी खबरें पढ़ने के लिए hindi.tennews.in : राष्ट्रीय न्यूज पोर्टल को विजिट करते रहे एवं अपनी ई मेल सबमिट कर सब्सक्राइब भी करे। विडियो न्यूज़ देखने के लिए TEN NEWS NATIONAL यूट्यूब चैनल को भी ज़रूर सब्सक्राइब करे।

Teachers’ Day Special