Guru Purnima: Saluting The Light That Shows The Way

Guru Purnima: Saluting The Light That Shows The Way

On the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, we pause to reflect on and express gratitude to the teachers who shape our minds, characters and destinies. Celebrated on the full moon of the Ashadh month, Guru Purnima holds a timeless significance—it is said that on this day, the first yogi, Lord Shiva, became the Adi Guru and began imparting knowledge to his disciples. Since then, the tradition of honouring one’s guru has continued across generations.

Sant Kabir beautifully captured the essence of this day in his famous couplet:
Guru Gobind dou khade, kaake laagu paay?
Balihaari Guru aapne, Gobind diyo batay.
It means, “If both God and Guru were to stand before me, whose feet should I touch first? I bow to the Guru who showed me the path to God.”

Our journey of learning begins at home. The first gurus in our lives are our parents, who teach us to walk, speak, behave and understand right from wrong. They lay the foundation of empathy, courage and discipline, even before we enter a classroom.

As we grow, schoolteachers take on the mantle. They not only empower us academically but nurture our emotional and moral compass. Many students might forget formulas and dates, but never forget that one teacher who believed in them. Think of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who credited his school teacher Iyadurai Solomon for igniting his dream of flight. Or Sachin Tendulkar, who remembers his coach Ramakant Achrekar not just for cricket lessons, but for instilling discipline, humility and grit.

In the armed forces, the role of a teacher becomes a matter of life and death. At the National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy, instructors spend four rigorous years with cadets, drilling into them every procedure, command and life-saving tactic. These teachers are not just instructors; they are role models in courage, resilience and leadership. As Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once said, “If a man says, he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha.” But behind every brave soldier is a teacher who prepared him to face fear and overcome it.

Even mistakes, though painful, are powerful teachers. In the Army, trainees are encouraged to err during practice drills, for only by confronting errors in peace can they be avoided in war. The lesson here is timeless: we all fall, but the wise rise with a lesson.

Perhaps the most overlooked teacher is life itself—with all its highs and lows, failures and victories. Every experience is an instruction, every setback a lesson. As we celebrate Guru Purnima, let us also pledge to remain lifelong learners.

So today, take a moment to remember and thank every teacher—be it your parent, school teacher, drill instructor, mentor or even your own mistake. They are the guiding lights who help us become not just successful individuals, but better human beings.