Reaffirming role in shaping future

Every year on September 5, India celebrates Teachers’ Day to honour Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a visionary educator and former President of India. But beyond tributes and ceremonies, this day carries a deeper message, a call to reflect on the indispensable role teachers’ play in shaping the moral and intellectual foundations of our society. Nowhere is this role more critical than in Kashmir, where the fabric of society is being tested by a range of alarming challenges, most notably, the rising tide of drug addiction among youth, along with growing incidents of violence, depression, alienation and moral decline. In such a turbulent environment, teachers are not just educators but beacons of stability, hope and guidance. Teachers are uniquely placed to notice early warning signs, a change in behavior, slipping attendance, lack of concentration and to intervene before it is too late. But the responsibility of teachers doesn’t end there. In a society where family structures are often under strain, where mental health is still stigmatized, and where social evils like domestic violence, unemployment, and misinformation are rising, the classroom has become more than a space for academic learning. It is a space for healing, mentoring, and value-building. Teachers today are also counselors, confidants, and role models. Yet despite the immense burden they carry, teachers in Kashmir often work in challenging conditions with limited resources, outdated infrastructure and a lack of systemic support. If we truly value their role in fighting the deep-rooted crises facing our society, we must invest in them through training, recognition and policy support. We must also recommit to empowering our teachers, so that they, in turn, can empower our children to say no to drugs, to resist peer pressure, to rise above social evils, and to build a Kashmir that is peaceful, educated, and morally resilient.