A student is like a wet lump of clay and a teacher is like an artist which shapes the talent of every student as per their zeal. A teacher is like a second parent who is responsible for shaping the future of every single child.

We all have had incidents when a teacher was so strict that we hated their very presence in the class. We have come across such teachers as well who were so calm, patient and organized that we never wanted their lectures to end. We have come across multiple teachers in our lives and all of them have had different impressions on us. However, all of us had a teacher who we can credit for the success that we will endure for life. There is always that one teacher and in some case more than one, who was responsible for changing our perspective towards life and our career, forever.

So today, on the occasion teacher’s day which is also the 132nd birth anniversary of Shri Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the former president of India and a great teacher, we have come up with some stories of the world-famous personalities. These stories tell us about the teachers who inspired these people and are credible for their success and fame around the world.

Bill Gates

Who wouldn’t want a life like formerly the richest but now 2nd richest person of the planet? Bill Gates, founder and former CEO of famous tech giant Microsoft has had his issues in school. However, he has given the credit to his teacher Blanche Caffeine for bringing him out of his shell.

Bill has told about the teacher in his blogs. He describes his teacher as “very kindly librarian and teacher”. Bill was a messy, nerdy and a shy boy. People used to mock him for his atrocious handwriting. Now a day it is termed as dysgraphia. It is a kind of learning disorder which affects written expression and can appear as difficulties with spelling, poor handwriting and trouble in putting thoughts on paper. It can be language or non-language based.

However, as Bill tells, Blanche took him under her guidance and taught him that it is okay to be like the way you are and be natural. She shared her love for the books with Bill. Gates credits her for the man of success that he is today.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is a renowned American talk show personality. However, she has had issues in her childhood. However, the name of the one person who gave her the freedom to be herself in her class was revealed, when the producers of her show surprised Oprah by inviting her fourth-grade teacher Mrs Duncan on her show. Oprah tells that she had a problem during her grade school. However, it was Mrs Duncan who was very supportive. “She often stayed after school to work with me,’ said Oprah when she was overwhelmed by her favourite teacher’s visit to her show. Oprah was so inspired by her teacher that she said she dreamt of becoming a 4th-grade teacher when she grows up.

“As a child, I never thought that Mrs Duncan might have had a life beyond our class. It was in her class that I came into myself. After all these years, I could say thank you to a woman who had a powerful impact on my early life.” Oprah said in a speech when her teacher visited her show.

Sachin Tendulkar

It seems that the ‘god of cricket’ also bows to someone. Sachin Tendulkar, one of the biggest sensation of the cricket world gives the credit of his success to his cricket and life coach Ramakant Achrekar.

Sachin tells that he used to play for the school’s junior team. One day, the senior team of his school was playing for Harris Shield finals at the Wankhede Stadium. However, his Ramakant sir had arranged a practice match for Sachin after talking to a cricket team captain. He instructed him to go there after school and bat at 4th number and that he need not bat. Ramakant did so for training purpose of Sachin.

“That was important because you needed to figure out your game there and figure out how to score runs in the middle,” Sachin said.

However, instead of going for the practice, Sachin decided to watch the seniors’ match and cheer for the team. After the match, Sachin saw Ramakant sir and thought of greeting him. However, after knowing that Sachin had not gone to play the practice match, Ramakant scolded him badly in front of everyone.

Sachin told him that he wanted to cheer for the senior team. To which Acharekar replied that he need not clap for others. He needs to take care of his own game and do something so that one day, the whole world will clap for him.

“That was the biggest lesson of my life. After that day, I never missed another match,” he said. This story was shared by Sachin in a video that he uploaded long ago.

These were some stories of inspiring people about their inspirations. Here are some beautiful views and opinions of great personalities about teacher and Gurus. 

Barack Obama & Michelle Obama

Former US President Barack Obama who praises teachers saying that they are the people who teach our children and fulfil the promise of a nation that’s always looking forward. He says that they believe that each generation has a responsibility to help the next in building a great country making the world a better place.

On asking the people to give their support and not only gratitude to the teachers, but Obama also said: “This is a profession where you have the potential to make more of a difference than just about anything you can go into.”

Not only Barack but his wife and Former 1st lady of USA, Michelle Obama also has immense respect for teachers. She works in the field of education. During her speech at the time of ending their session as the presidential family, Michelle addressed teachers saying “All across this nation who get up every day and work their hearts out to lift our young people. I am so grateful to all of you for your passion and your dedication and all the hard work on behalf of the next generation.” She closed her speech by thanking all the teachers for their efforts and contribution in uplifting the nation and its future generation.

Swami Vivekananda

The great thinker, philosopher and a worshipped personality Swami Vivekananda has always been a part of our lessons. But he is thankful to someone else for his great perspective towards life. Swami Vivekanand has always been a worshipper of his Guru, Swami Ramkrishna Param Hansa.

There is a renowned incident about the story of Vivekanand and his Guru. Vivekanand was told as a child that his Guru was allergic to money. To testify the truthfulness of this, once when Ramkrishna Ji was sleeping in his abode, Vivekanand tried to touch him with a coin. As soon as he Ramkrishna’s body came in contact with the coin, his body started to pain a lot and he was in suffering. This restored Swami Vivekanand’s trust in his Guru’s pious and pure attitude towards life.

He also said once, “The Guru must be worshipped as God. He is God, he is nothing less than that.”

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

The man who is behind the celebration of teacher’s day was no less of a personality himself. He served as India’s 2nd President and 1st Vice President. Also, he represented India at the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). He also served as the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union. However, above all, he was a great and worshipped teacher.

One day, his students and friends came urging him to let them allow to celebrate his birthday. However, he was so inspired and enthusiastic by the teaching profession that he said: “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if 5 September is observed as Teachers’ Day.”

This was taken into account by the people and since the year 1962, his birthday is celebrated in India as Teacher’s Day to honour the hard work, efforts and contribution of Teachers in the development and upbringing of the future generation of the nation.

He was so renowned personality that Oxford University, has set up a scholarship in his name, known as ‘Radhakrishnan Chevening Scholarships’ to honour his memory as a philosopher. He placed Indian philosophy on the world map and he claimed that Indian philosophy merits the term ‘philosophy’ in the western world.