Do you have a pre-schooler /primary-schooler at home.. then perhaps you would be familiar with the “My teaceher is so great..she knows so much..she can do so many different things.. she knows the answeres to all qustions..she is always correct..she never makes any mistakes…My teacher this..My teacher that…and so on..and on ..and on.
With all the love and affection and care and attention you give them.. all they have to talk about and feel awe is their teacher. You might have even faced your little one’s wrath (read tantrum )..if you have ever tried to disprove whatever the teacher has uttered… and I am sure when the the child is fast asleep.. you think of their words and you cannot miss the smile appears at the corner of your lips… after all here is where the “Idol-worship” starts…. how about a little flashback on your armchair…looking into the evening sky…with the pre-monsoon winds caressing your hair softly….( perfect ambience for a flash back.. isn’t it…)
You may not exactly remember the chronology of events in your pre-schooling years.. but I am sure your parents .. or that distant aunt ( who always embarrasses you by pinching your cheeks crimson).. who keep narrating those events at every family gathering.. I was told that.. I would be the first to raise my hand in the class.. be that for a pop quiz.. or to take part in some competion.. or anything else which my teacher speaks about…so as to impress my teacher (my perfect idol)…
This admiration for the teacher continues as we outgrow our school and step into the college. Its undeniable that every college will have a “handful” of professors who are greatly respected by the student (It is a misconception that ‘college-students’ have no respect for their faculties and are always looking for new ideas fun and frolicking.) A student can recognize a “good” teacher.. who not only teaches them .. but also teaches them the “art of learning”…hence inspiring the tendency for “self-learning”.
Coming out of school… I hope you will be having a more vivid memory of your college teachers. The classes that most students don’t attend are invariably taken by professors.. who have been giving the same “notes” for the past 5 yrs and when a question in relation to the recent development in the subject is raised.. the only answer that you get to hear is ..”Oh!.. that’s not in your syllabus.. so we will talk about this later “… and “later” never comes. Experience would reveal. if you still persist with those professors.. then be sure to have some shocking revelations in your internals or Lab records.
However, a student is shrewd enough to recognize the talent in a professor ..who keeps himself abreast of the recent developments in the field.. and does not hesitate to get involved in an intelligent conversation.. without making the student feel small about the things he does not know… after all students come to learn. Such a professor is a rare find… and no doubt his classes are packed to full house. So never undermine the judgment of a student. They are more smart than you think they are.
With such experiences.. we develop an ideal idol in our thoughts and thrive to be more like “them”. May be idol worshipping is not that bad after all..(assuming the right-kind-of-personality is being chosen for idolizing) if it is bringing out the best in us… and makes us aware of the our shortcomings ..so that we can rectify them. A teenager who looks up to SaniaMirza as his/her idol will hesitate twice before napping again on a Saturday morning… Sania inspires the teenager to get out of bed ( and feel great about it too) .. to reach the tennis court for practice. Young minds who look up to KalpanaChavla and SunitaWillams … take effort to understand science beyond their text books and exam notes.
Who knows someone might be looking up to you as a perfect idol.. So beware and be aware of what you say and do.. inadvertently you would be influencing someone… so why not influence for better… after all… change for better is something we all aspire for.. isn’t it ?.
Much needed thought, when most of us moving into a new phase, which requires us to be responsible parents or role models for the nextgen. As you rightly said, the first idol-worship starts either with parents or teachers. However, I would suggest bringing up kids by being their ownself, rather than imitating someone and following the steps of someone. For some reason I have never been able to accpet the idolizing of someone within reach. For me, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Bharathi, Nietzsche, Gurdjieff, Osho and such people were idols during my formative years. Sometimes, idolization, hinders the growth of an individual.
However,it is our responsibility to be a role model and a positive idol, to make the way easy for the nextgen, whether they follow it or not.
The sequence of ideas throughout the post was perfect and it’s really a food for thought:)
lol i know:) we pick the good from the bad by juts seeing them….
btw,if i dont like a teacher i l go a long way to test them…the other day i told a teacher to shut up when she tried to “rag” me withs some(if you feel greek to this i dnt blame you)……
i still remember my LKG teacher…..:)
Shiva..
***bringing up kids by being their own self, rather than imitating someone***
there is a thin line between idolizing and emulating a personality… idolizing enhances the individual mind to “think”..where as emulating does not
..moreover..idolizing is not a miracle cure for behavior..its just a stimulant and/or deterrent.. depending on circumstances..
Instead of reprimanding a child on event of misbehaviors..try telling “”do u think [[[his idol]]] would have done like this / or would appreciate such a behavior? ? ? “”
****t is our responsibility to be a role model and a positive idol***
this is what we need to be constantly reminded of ..isn’t it..after all kids repeat what they listen to..they act what they see acted upon
yeah…i remember all my fave teachers…all of them are an inspiration in some way…btw u can always idolize the good/positive things of any person than him/her self!!
Vishesh..
Sure u r teachers must be having a tough time keeping up with your pranks
Light
Idolization is the first wave for inspiration.. once you get inspired.. then things start taking shape the way you see them..and also promts you to work towards better inspirations
Thanks for clarifying idolizing and emulating.
Shiva…
Just pass this on to souls who think emulating = idolizing .. May be this little difference could bring about a major change for better