‘Teaching is a work of art’ Free Press honours educators at Teacher’s Day Felicitation event
Recognizing the pivotal role of educators in shaping the future of society, Free Press, in association with Daly College Business Management (DCBM), organized a grand Teacher’s Day Felicitation program at Free Press House.
Recognizing the pivotal role of educators in shaping the future of society, Free Press, in association with Daly College Business Management (DCBM), organized a grand Teacher’s Day Felicitation program at Free Press House. The event was powered by Omaxe Limited and associate sponsored by Geeta Rameshwar Trust.
The event brought together prominent academic leaders, administrative dignitaries, and experienced school teachers from across the city to celebrate the profound impact of teaching and the evolving responsibilities of educators in the modern era.
Watch the event video:
Free Press Teacher’s Day Felicitation – Indore
Video uploaded on September 9, 2026 (IST).
Watch the Teacher’s Day Felicitation Video
Watch the video from the Teacher’s Day Felicitation event in Indore on YouTube Shorts. The video was uploaded on September 9, 2026 (IST).
The ceremony featured distinguished Guests of Honour Prof Rajeev Dixit, Vice Chairman of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis, and Dr Arvind Ghangoria, Dean of MGM Medical College, Indore. Special Guests included Dr Shresth Chhabra Daly College Business Management, and Akhil Sharma of Omaxe Limited, Indore. Free Press Arshit Gautam welcomed the guests and expressed gratitude to teachers for their contribution.
During the event, keynote speakers emphasized that teachers do more than impart academic knowledge—they mentor young minds, instil core moral values, and identify the unique potential of children starting from an early age. Highlighting the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 alongside the rising influence of artificial intelligence and digital shifts, the dignitaries underscored that an empathetic, value-driven teacher remains the ultimate foundation for guiding Generation Z and Generation Alpha toward a bright, disciplined, and purposeful future.
Alcohol-free, tobacco-free equal true excellence
"Teacher's Day is vital for students, teachers, and the entire nation alike. In my 25 years as a professor of surgery, I have realized that true teaching goes far beyond formal lectures—90% of what students absorb comes indirectly from observing our daily behaviour: how we talk, how we treat patients, and the ethics we hold in our hearts.
Teachers come in many forms. In a medical college, our patients are our greatest teachers, as are the nurses, ward boys, and technicians we work alongside. Learning is an unending process; when a teacher enters a classroom of 100 students, there are 101 learners in that room. As long as we are learning, we are living.
During my post-graduation, I was told that alcohol was necessary to be a surgeon, but I proved that myth wrong. I teach that true professional excellence comes only when you are completely alcohol-free, tobacco-free, and drug-free. We must address these issues openly, which is why our institution actively promotes alcohol-free, smoke-free, and single-use plastic-free environments to combat growing health crises like cancer.
Our responsibility is to guide young minds toward a healthy and noble path. As Sant Kabir Das wrote: 'Jeevan vish ki bel hai, Guru amrit ki khaan'—Life is a vine of poison, and the Guru is an endless mine of nectar."
Navigating Gen Z & Alpha only possible by teachers
"The role of a teacher is becoming far more critical today as we navigate the rise of AI, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. No governance system or technology can control or guide this generation—only a dedicated teacher can. In India, society expects educators to be role models, instilling deep moral values and character alongside modern education.
Under the National Education Policy 2020, our responsibility starts as early as Class 6, where it falls upon us to identify and nurture each child's unique skills. Because of the deep connection we build with students, we often recognize their true potential even before their parents do. Guiding a child toward their natural talent brings genuine harmony and positivity to society.
Acharya Rajneesh once noted that if a teacher leaves teaching to become anything else—even the President of a nation—it is a demotion, not a promotion. Moving away from being an educator is never an elevation. Regardless of any administrative title I hold, if I fail to fulfill my duty as a teacher, I have diminished, not grown.
A teacher carries immense sensitivity, protecting a child’s dignity while shaping their character. We must remain steadfast in this noble calling, steering society along a path firmly rooted in Indian values."
Some dialogues with teachers at Free Press
The teachers honoured and featured at the event offered personal reflections on why they continue to teach, what they have learned from their students and how education is changing. Their words bring a human dimension to the broader conversation about schools, learning and the future.
Sujata Johnson
"I love teaching. Initially, I taught in a boys' school and felt it was tough, but grooming them is a real achievement. There should be no differentiation between kids; we should guide them positively and focus on life skills over just academics. Grooming them to be good citizens is what truly matters. Equality is everything."
Archana Trivedi
"It has been an incredible learning experience over my 32 years as an educator. I have learned far more from my students than I have taught them. Even today, I am still learning every single day."
Sushmita Banerjee
"It is a long, continuous journey, and right now I feel like a student again. I am actively trying to comprehend and adapt to this new generation alongside AI."
Poonam Pardhi
"With 20 years of experience, my passion for this profession remains unchanged. I love teaching—it was always my dream to become a teacher and inspire young minds."
Dayaram Nimodia
"In my 33 years since the start of our school, teachers used to have Aladdin’s magic lamp to inspire children; today, the world has simply turned digital and we need that magic back. Teaching now requires much more patience as discipline, reading, and writing skills are fading. Events like this provide the respect and appreciation we need to stay patient and serve better."
Aditi Agrawal
"Running a school with more than 500 students is a journey filled with constant purpose. A teacher touches eternity; they can never tell where their influence stops."
Pooja Shrivastava
"Over my 18 years of teaching Sanskrit and Hindi, I’ve found that the real challenge lies in keeping the kids engaged and entertained while imparting crucial language roots."
Reena Napavaliya
"When the students we taught go ahead and surpass even our own success, it brings us the pure delight. We always wish the absolute best for their future."
Anamika Pandit
"Through 18 years in education, my focus has always been on cultivating a healthy, supportive environment where children feel safe to learn and grow."
Shobhana Attut
"My mother, Savitri Chourasia, is my true inspiration and role model. I am standing here today as an educator entirely because of her guidance."
Archana Hirway
"Being a teacher is a special blessing because it allows me to relive the joy and innocence of childhood every single day."
Champa Bhattacharjee
"It is the noble profession of all. Grooming small children to build a better future is, in my opinion, the most fulfilling path anyone can choose."
Premlata George
"Across 34 years in education, the fundamental goal remains the same: to plant seeds of knowledge and empathy that will bloom for a lifetime."
Mehar Nigar Siddhique
"With 33 years dedicated to guiding young minds, I’ve learned that good teaching is more about giving right questions than giving right answers."
Lilawati Shukla
"Since 1994, across 37 years of teaching and 27 years at this same school, I’ve had the joy of starting KG 2, taking students to Class 12, serving as chief editor of the school magazine, and leading teacher orientations."
Neha Bhayana
"Though I have 10 years of experience, teaching was my childhood dream. While most people don't pick it as a first choice and I initially studied pharmacy, I switched careers specifically to achieve my passion."
Sanjana Jain
"With 11 years of experience, I feel privileged to be in the only profession that directly builds future leaders. Hearing from my former students always feels incredible."
Raji Umesh Das
"I chose teaching out of pure passion and I love my work. I learn something new every day, even as I navigate a current generation that is far more practical than emotional."
Hema Thadani
"A teacher never truly grows old. By constantly staying in the company of young minds, we keep our own inner child alive."
Manoj Patidar
"Being around children keeps you young at heart. You never grow old, and every day brings something new to learn. We don't work for awards, but receiving recognition motivates us to keep giving our best."
Nafees Khanam
"Teaching is the most respected job because it empowers us to drive real change. It is our duty to shape the youth, and that is how I contribute to our nation."
Ruchita Joshi
"I chose Sanskrit to stay deeply connected to our sanskriti. My goal is to revive moral values and share the vast knowledge embedded in our ancient heritage."
Girija Kumar
"I am a regular reader of the Free Press and deeply grateful for this platform. It is wonderful to see an organization concerned not just with news, but with actively building education."
Rita Gupta
"Across my 25 years of experience, seeing my former students become doctors and engineers brings pure joy. Being with young people keeps your enthusiasm high and leaves no room for worries."
Archana Sinha
"I have been teaching Social Science for 26 years. I am thankful to the Free Press for this event—just as a doctor saves a life, a teacher creates a life."
Swati Burkar
"I am thrilled to have chosen this profession. At 57, I feel extremely young and am always learning—mostly learning how to forget stress immediately! I am honored by this recognition."
Ashwini Dekhane
"In my 20 years of experience, including 17 years at the same school, I’ve grown from handling pre-primary classes to leading creativity and heading exams."
Jyoti Nambiar
"I am delighted to be here today. Recognition like this is a wonderful acknowledgment of the hard work educators put in every day."
Leena Mehta
"Teaching is the art of assisting discovery. True educators don't just instruct; they light a fire that encourages lifelong learning and character."
Shyam Kumar Upadhyay
"It is a happy day to celebrate education. Teaching is a work of heart, and every moment spent shaping a mind is a step toward a brighter world."
Monika Singh
"To teach is to touch a life forever. Our greatest reward isn't found in words, but in seeing our students grow into compassionate, confident human beings."
Teaching Beyond Textbooks: Values, Character and Life Skills
The voices shared at the Teacher’s Day Felicitation event point to a dimension of education that is sometimes difficult to measure but easy to recognize: the influence of a teacher on a child's character. A school may be known for its academic results, but the work of educators extends far beyond marks, examinations and classroom lessons.
Teachers help children learn how to listen, communicate, work with others, handle disappointment, develop discipline and recognize their own strengths. They also become important adults in a child's life at a time when students are developing their identity and understanding their place in the wider world.
This is why several educators at the event spoke about equality, life skills, empathy, moral values, curiosity and the joy of watching former students succeed. These are not separate from education. They are part of the education that remains with students long after they leave school.
AI, Gen Z and Gen Alpha: The Teacher’s Role Is Changing
Artificial intelligence is changing how students find information, complete tasks and interact with technology. At the same time, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are growing up in a digital environment that is very different from the one experienced by earlier generations.
The discussion at the event therefore placed renewed emphasis on the human role of the teacher. Students need adults who can help them distinguish information from understanding, convenience from responsibility and technology from wisdom.
Teachers are also learning alongside their students. As several educators observed, remaining curious and adaptable is now essential. The modern classroom requires teachers to understand new tools while continuing to preserve the fundamentals of good education—patience, communication, values, creativity and care.
National Education Policy 2020 and the Need to Identify Student Potential
The event also highlighted the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the importance of identifying the unique potential of children from an early stage.
Every child does not learn in exactly the same way, and every student does not have the same strengths. Teachers who spend significant time with children are often able to recognize interests, abilities and difficulties that may otherwise remain unnoticed.
This makes the teacher-student relationship particularly important in an education system that increasingly values holistic development. Academic knowledge remains essential, but so are creativity, communication, practical skills, confidence, values and the ability to continue learning.
The Quiet Legacy of Teachers in Indore
One of the most powerful themes running through the teachers’ reflections is the idea that a teacher may never know the full extent of their influence. A lesson taught today may shape a decision made years later. A few encouraging words may remain with a student long after the classroom itself has been forgotten.
For teachers who have spent 20, 30 or even more years in education, the profession becomes a record of generations passing through their classrooms. Students grow up, choose careers, become parents themselves and return with stories of what they achieved.
That continuing connection explains why many educators describe teaching as both a profession and a lifelong journey. The teacher changes with every batch of students, and the students carry something of the teacher with them.
A Note from Tina Khatri
There is something deeply moving about listening to teachers speak about their work after decades in the classroom. Their stories are not only about lessons taught or subjects completed. They are about people—children who arrived uncertain, students who discovered confidence, young minds that found a direction and former pupils whose achievements became a source of quiet pride for their teachers.
What stood out to me while putting together these conversations is how differently each educator describes the same calling. For some, teaching began as a childhood dream. For others, it became a passion discovered along the way. Some spoke about Sanskrit and Indian heritage, others about life skills, equality, discipline, creativity, technology or the simple joy of staying young around children.
Yet the underlying thought remains remarkably similar: a teacher's influence does not end when the school bell rings. It continues through the habits, values, questions and confidence that students carry into their adult lives.
In a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how information is accessed, that human contribution deserves particular attention. The strongest education of the future will not necessarily be about choosing between teachers and technology. It will be about using technology intelligently while protecting the human relationships that make learning meaningful.
Teacher’s Day gives us a moment to acknowledge that contribution. Awards and felicitation ceremonies can recognize educators publicly, but the deepest reward of teaching is often much quieter: a former student returning years later, a child discovering a talent, a difficult student finding confidence, or a young person choosing to become a good human being.
For me, that is what makes the phrase “Teaching is a work of art” so meaningful. The teacher does not always get to see the completed work. The real artwork is created gradually—in minds, habits, choices, relationships and lives.
Why Teacher Recognition Matters
Recognition can never fully measure the influence of a good teacher. A teacher may remember a student who needed encouragement, a child who discovered a talent, or a former pupil who returned years later to share an achievement. These moments are part of the invisible legacy of education.
The Free Press Teacher’s Day Felicitation program in Indore brought that legacy into focus. It celebrated experienced educators while also acknowledging the new challenges facing classrooms. In an era when information is available at the touch of a screen, the teacher's role increasingly lies in helping students understand, question, apply, evaluate and use that information responsibly.
The event’s message was ultimately both simple and powerful: teaching remains a deeply human profession. Technology can assist discovery, but teachers provide context, empathy, discipline, encouragement and values. They help young people understand not only what to learn, but also why learning matters.
As the teachers gathered for the felicitation, their individual experiences offered a collective reminder that education is a long-term investment in people. Every lesson, conversation, correction, question and word of encouragement can become part of a student's life story.
And perhaps that is why teaching truly is a work of art—the finished work is never displayed in one place. It lives on in the people teachers help shape.
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Teacher’s Day Felicitation in Indore: The Larger Message
The Teacher’s Day Felicitation event at Free Press House brought together educators with years of experience, academic leaders and guests from the education and administrative spheres. Their conversations showed that teaching is evolving, but its central purpose remains constant.
The modern teacher must navigate AI, digital learning and changing student behaviour while continuing to perform the timeless work of mentoring, encouraging, correcting, listening and inspiring. That balance is likely to become even more important as schools prepare students for a world in which technology will continue to change the nature of work and learning.
The educators featured here also demonstrate that there is no single formula for becoming a memorable teacher. Some focus on language and culture. Some emphasize life skills. Some draw strength from their students. Some find joy in seeing former students succeed. Others find meaning in adapting to a new generation.
What connects them is commitment.
In the end, the strongest tribute to teachers is not simply a certificate, a stage or an award. It is the knowledge that the work they do continues through their students.
About this report: This feature preserves the supplied statements and educator profiles from the Free Press Teacher’s Day Felicitation event, with editorial structuring for online readability and search-friendly presentation.
By Tina Khatri • Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
© Tina Khatri. All rights reserved.