Dharamshala: On the joyous occasion of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birth anniversary, a day honoured across India as Teachers’ Day, Kalon (Minister) Tharlam Dolma Changra of the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration, delivered an inspiring and heartfelt message.
In her message, Education Kalon underscored the profound significance of the teaching profession, highlighting that Dr Abdul Kalam, a former Indian President, regarded the title of teacher as even more prestigious than that of president. Teachers were lauded for their essential role in shaping students’ character, capabilities, and futures, affirming the nobility of their calling.
Furthermore, Education Kalon echoed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wisdom, noting that teaching with love and compassion enhances students’ understanding and engagement. Emphasising the importance of empathy in education, she pointed out that the effectiveness of learning is closely tied to the teacher’s compassion.
The core of her message revolved around embedding the values from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s four noble commitments into educational practices while strongly highlighting the importance of preserving the Tibetan language and culture. The Kalon reiterated His Holiness’ call to honour and protect Tibet’s unique heritage, emphasising that maintaining this distinct cultural identity is crucial for Tibetans.
The message concluded by calling for a balanced educational approach and encouraging schools to seamlessly integrate traditional subjects like Tibetan language, dialectic, Buddhist studies, and secular ethics with modern curricula in accordance with the Basic Education Policy for Tibetans in Exile.