THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTORSHIP IN THE NEXT GENERATION’S LIVES - BLOGCHATTER HALF MARATHON 2023
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The word ‘mentor’ has always been there in our lives,
right from the olden ages when rulers used to use their influence and affluence
to bring up struggling artists and writers. Queen Elizabeth lent her name to
the age that she reigned over – the Elizabethan era, and many were the
prominent people she brought into the limelight, starting with William
Shakespeare himself.
Indian rulers like Jahangir, Akbar and Shah Jahan
promoted the arts and literature in their courts. Who has not read about
Akbar’s Nine Jewels or the Navaratnas? The Chola rulers of South India brought
up the exquisite art form known as Tanjore painting or Thanjavur painting where
gold leaf was used to embellish the classical themes.
Coming closer to the modern era, the renowned artist Raja Ravi Varma had a special mentor in his uncle, Sri Raja Raja Varma, who spotted the former’s artistic talent and honed his talent during his childhood. However, it was later in life that Ravi Varma moved to Baroda in the north of India where he encountered his greatest mentor, Maharaja Sayaji Rao Garkwad III. The rulers of Mysore, Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar X and later Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV also afforded him tremendous encouragement by commissioning many of his later paintings.
The world ‘mentor’ means an experienced and trusted
advisor. In Greek mythology, Mentor was the friend of King Odysseus or Ulysses
who was put in charge of the education of Telemachus, the prince.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a mentor is
defined as “a person who gives a younger or less experienced person help and
advice over a period of time, especially at work or school.”
How vital is it to have mentors in today’s world to lead
the present generation forward? In my opinion, while the mother is supposed to
be the child’s earliest mentor, the next set of mentors are teachers and
counsellors in school. There is no denying that children are like plants and
will run wild, untrammelled, if they have no one to show them otherwise.
Children should grow up in the best possible way – be free to do what they want
to do as long as it does not harm themselves or anyone around them.
Mentors have always had a special place in society. They
have held up lanterns for others to follow. Even an intellectual like Isaac
Newton said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of
giants.” That is the truth. Mentors are always giants, allowing others to see
the hope within themselves.
The importance of mentoring cannot be minimized. As
children grow, their first mentors after their parents are their teachers at
every stage who hold their hand and uplift them mentally and intellectually. As Henry Brooks Adams put it so well, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never
tell where his influence stops.”
Once a young person reaches the point when he must earn a
living, he needs a different kind of mentor. One who will help him in his
career, to achieve his dream goals and offer him new perspectives from a
vantage point of experience. A person who has once been in the same shoes as
his mentee and has created his own path towards success.
It is vital that a mentor be the master of his craft so
that he can pass on his skills. He should be proactive and talk generously of his mentee at places that matter. It is his job to upskill as well as build up
the career opportunities of his protégé. Of course, there are examples of peer
mentors who are generally of the same age and turn into sounding boards and
confidantes.
Who ever said that one cannot learn from those younger
than one? In fact, teachers often learn much while interacting with their
students. This is called reverse mentoring and offers the mentors fresh and new
perspectives which are relevant in the modern world.
It is so important to learn from others and then go ahead
and ignite the flame in someone else as well. Learning is like a candle which
can be used to light many other candles. It was the effervescent Whoopie
Goldberg who said so aptly, “We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the
reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.”
I have had the honour of having many talented mentors in
my life, starting with my parents, some wonderful teachers in school and later
in life, some amazing senior ladies when my husband was part of the Indian
Army who helped me to add facets to my personality in their own inspiring ways.
Today, when I stand up to speak before a crowd, pick up a paintbrush, cook a
certain dish or write an inspiring poem, I can visualise the talented people
who cheered me on from the sidelines. I can never forget any of them.
The world, today, is a changed place. The old ideas of
parenting have been thrown out of the window, grandparents no longer play the
same roles, and the advent of the nuclear family has ensured that parents have
turned more defensive and protective of their offspring. The role of good effective
mentors has increased in importance, if only to streamline the life and career
choices of young ones today who have a dazzling array of choices before them. Robert
Frost’s poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ comes to mind. The poet took the road not
taken which made all the difference. That is what a mentor can do for his
mentee… help him to find the right path, one that makes all the difference!
This post is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023.
Great post! I've not been lucky in finding any lifelong mentors so far but those few who took the time to give out encouragements are the reason I am the person I am today~
ReplyDeleteThank you, Careena! I think a few words of encouragement at the right time go a long way. Praise and warm words never go waste.
ReplyDelete