How far can the torture on humanity go in today’s world? No limits is the answer. Imagine a son’s grave dug open and father summoned to confirm if the body lying is that of his son. The son: Abdur Rehman Paddar, a carpenter by profession, Place: Srinagar, Killed in a fake encounter in Dec 2006.
Second burial of the son, second death of the father!!

Recently there was a seminar on ‘Shall Guru-Shishya Parampara be revived?” And trust me, I was surprised to hear a few intelligent panelists talk in support. In today’s world where the pattern of living changes every decade significantly, can we really think of reviving something that we assume, existed millions of years back. From that period we have definitions of Gurus, Shishyas and their Parampara. For the same we can refer to our enlightening scriptures too. Vedas and Upanishads are excellent sources to learn about our ancient time, people, and their thoughts. It is very interesting as well as adds up to the depth of our knowledge. But to bring back the traditions mentioned there, is it practical?

Well, we read about one great guru Drona, one supremely successful disciple, Arjun, oneWell, we read about one great guru Drona, one supremely successful disciple, Arjun, one result of guru’s partiality, Eklavya, and one victim of cruel destiny, Karna. And on these four the major part of parampara is based. Alright, we bring back that tradition and try becoming like Drona, but here, what do we know about him? How was he as an individual, what were his attributes as a great teacher, what was the technique he used to take out the best from his students? And unfortunately, it’s not a mathematical equation either that if we manage to get teachers like Drona, only Arjun, Eklavya or Karan would be produced. I know Karna’s guru was Parashuram, but initially he too wished to be Drona’s shishya. It was his rejection, partly because of his unmatched talent in archery that would have surpassed that of Arjuna.

The students today are expected only to receive what is given to them, either through books or their teachers. It's how well they can reproduce makes them a good or a bad student. Their thoughts and ideas seldom or never matter, as they don't fetch them marks in examination It's become a narrow one-way teaching. "I speak-you listen" is the technique. I believe that it's only by opening up with the students that the teacher would know what the student has understood and for that a teacher has to come down to the students level, keeping aside their ego for sometime.

Today, we should try to bring back that part of Parampara which had mutual respect, interdependence, trust and above all affection. It will work, if not a miracle, it will not be a total failure either let's try.