Teachers' service invaluable: Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Sep 4: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today met the National Awardee teachers and told them the awards conferred on them are a token of the nation's appreciation of their efforts, dedication and commitment to the value system at a time ''when cross commercialism and anti-social behaviour is overtaking our educational institutions.''

Dr Singh said he was ''deeply pained'' by the death of a teacher last week in Ujjain at the hands of unruly students and some anti-social elements who pretended to be students.

''I urge every parent in our country to teach their children the value of the idea of ''Acharya Devo Bhava'' (teacher is God).

''This year, on Teachers' Day (tomorrow), I want every child, every student, every parent, every citizen to chant those ancient words of wisdom and pledge that we will never show disrespect to our teachers,'' he told teachers who called on him at his official residence at 7 Race Course Road here.

''I am truly delighted therefore to welcome you all today.

Receiving a teacher at one's home, our culture tells us, is truly an honour and a great privilege. I am particularly delighted to be among teachers, having been one myself. In fact, I still see myself as a teacher of sorts. I have strayed into politics by accident, but I had become a teacher by choice,'' he said.

He urged the teaching community, both at the school level and in institutions of higher education, to uphold the best traditions of excellence and commitment to knowledge that was expected from teachers.

''I want every teacher to also take a pledge to impart knowledge to their students without fear or favour, committed to the best and highest traditions of learning. India needs good, hard-working, honest teachers, and caring teachers. In turn, we must show respect and take good care of them, offer them a status that recognises their great contribution to society and to the processes of nation-building,'' Dr Singh added.

UNI