Shiban Khaibri
Morally and ethically, a teacher is supposed to be above any extent of pliability and like gold, carries the property of not rusting but only shining and spreading light of knowledge and building a nation. If builders turn out to be demolishers and light spreaders themselves grope in the dark, the nation is susceptible to suffer in that, the generations can remain bereft of the virtues of knowledge, efficiency and capabilities. We cannot go ahead in any way, in any field and in any manner unless we sustain and strengthen hard work based on the solid foundations of sincerity and honesty. A teacher converts a student into a full fledged human being, a knowledgeable and wise human being from a simple creature to occupy a purposeful and useful place in the society. The role of teacher being so high and noble is, therefore expected to possess high character, efficiency, self restraint, illuminated vision, piety and religiousness – a role model for his or her students. Against this background and held belief, when we hear that some members from such a noble profession resort to utter brazen unfair means to get the next grade or promotion, or a small monetary increment, the confidence in and the respect for a teacher gets shaken.
Recently, out of a number of 30 teachers, allegedly indulging in mass copying, as many as 13 were caught red handed by Police in an examination centre in Rajouri. The situation appeared free for all, in an organized and planned way and strangely this time the case was not in respect of the students but the “respected” teachers themselves breaking all hell loose about the principles of morality, legality, fairness, and honesty. The nefarious aim was to secure “Masters’ grade” not by means fair – of hard work, reading books and knowledgeable material but ostensibly by offering bribes. Imagine when such stuff is deputed for exam. duties, the cardinal business of which is to conduct tests in all fairness without any cheating and to deal very effectively with those, who resort to copying or any other means of cheating, they in all probabilities at best could be expected to negotiate deals for “allowing” and “ensuring” foolproof copying thus marring very mercilessly the prospects of the hard working and sincere students who sit to take exams only after a lot of hard work in studies. The sordid story is unique in as much as they were caught doing the dark act in night’s darkness with a dark mind and a dark intention with aids and tools dipped in all black darkness. They were caught at those very centres where they were expected to appear the next day in broad day open light. They instead believed that most of the dark deeds were committed in darkness. Copying is thieving and the conventional characteristics of thieving is that the act is committed in the darkness of the night when the unsuspecting victims are usually fast asleep readying their bodies and brains for the next day’s toil. The head of a family, institution or the country is expected to be all honest, sincere but firm and resolute and here the head – the Principal and other concerned authorities are suspected of having been in full connivance and rather having facilitated the “smooth” operation without any let or hindrance hence choosing the night to ensure that these “intelligent and efficient” teacher candidates enter into the Master grade of School Education department to serve the purpose and aim of the education with intent to “raise” its standard and stature.
The Police authorities of Rajouri deserve all praises for their swift action by arresting the culprits in the interests of fairness, equity and upholding the law. The prospects of the deserving and the promising students have thus been sought to be protected. As per reports, the Police party accompanied by a Magistrate raided the examination centre at Gmbhir Muglan in Manjakote tehsil of district Rajouri on Dec 27, 2013 at 11 pm – arresting 13 including the Principal. Although 30 such “illustrious” candidates were engaged in the shabby act, yet only 13 could get into the police net, rest managing to escape taking advantage of the darkness. It got revealed that the accused had “bought and managed” question papers in advance from the superintendent and other concerned staff members, the same which they were required to appear in the next day and were copying answers on the answer books. The word “superintendent” means one who supervises (against any mischief or hanky panky), one who performs as a care taker, one who upholds and enforces law and not the one who connives with the thieves. It is further revealed that the accused had managed earlier papers in the same manner after a “commercial deal” of Rs20000 per candidate had been struck with those in – charge of the examination.
The fact that some courses in Urdu from the Jamia Urdu Aligarh University of UP which reportedly are treated by the Education department as equivalent to B.Ed degree needs a review of experts as the standard of the level of the education imparted in our state is fairly good and even at par with the best of the universities of the country and while recognizing academic courses of other institutions to match with our courses should not be the ones with diluted standards, instead should be at par with, if not above our level. Copying breeds corruption and spreads inefficiency, the indulgers nursing a hollowed mindset of having glorified deceit which strengthens their tendencies of employing the same tactics in other walks of their life at each stage. Such people can resort to crimes of various hues and not only the government but all in the society must resist and fight such a cruel joke with the highest institutions of learning and light.
Just up to three decades back, we hardly heard, not even rarely, that some Superintendent of an examination centre had “sold” some question paper to those whom he or she would keep the same as an irretrievable secret till the announced date and appropriate ticking of the fixed second of the watch, open the packet’s seal and arrange its distribution and then guard the whole exercise with an eagle’s eye. The heart beats in waves of the candidates ( what could be in it) used to collide with those of the Superintendent for satisfactorily and in deference to the legal , moral and procedural conducting of the exercise produced a synthesis of genuineness and fair play in all respects. When the prized packets were being delivered by the University or Board authorities to the Superintendents and other designated officials, back home neither their spouses nor they themselves ever used to think to use any contents for personal illegal gains for turning rich overnight but used to guard the public “amanat” more than their lives. Their apparent mediocre, if not poor, level of economic status was providing to them more solitude, contentment and dignity rather than going the other way for which their inner conscience always would curse and reprimand them. Were we less developed then or are we more developed now comparatively is an important issue to ponder over. The fact that most of the staff at each level associated with the exams are even now still holding the side of honesty and integrity and the number of black sheep is not more to cause alarming concern but it is a reality that we cannot afford any compromise with the sanctity of the knowledge, the art of learning, spreading of light and the fair test of knowing who knew how much and what much. That is the avowed job of teachers who cannot afford to falter, fret and tempt in their noblest and the most respected role of teaching, guiding and imparting trainings in career and character building of their students. They are gold and “if gold rusts, what then can iron do?”
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