Former Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Ali Mohammed Magrey, on Friday described teachers as the “quiet architects” of a child’s character and called for greater investment in their dignity, professional development and well-being.
Addressing the Dronacharya Awards for Teachers 2026, organised by BMS Academy for Professional Courses under the aegis of the BMS Educational Trust at BMS College of Engineering in Bengaluru, Justice Magrey said teachers do much more than impart academic knowledge.
“A teacher does not merely transfer information from a textbook to a notebook,” he said, highlighting the role of teachers in encouraging students, building confidence and shaping their character.
Justice Magrey said education in its true sense goes beyond marks and examinations, encompassing curiosity, integrity, resilience and empathy.
“It is the teacher who instils the discipline to keep trying after failure, the courage to ask an honest question, and the values that will guide a child’s conduct long after the syllabus is forgotten,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience as a judge, Justice Magrey said that long before law, family and society leave their imprint on an individual, teachers play a crucial role in shaping a child’s character.
He said that behind the success of doctors, engineers, scientists and judges, there is often a teacher who believed in them before they believed in themselves.
Describing teachers as “nation-builders”, Justice Magrey said India’s aspirations for growth, knowledge and innovation are closely linked to the collective efforts of teachers working in classrooms across the country.
He also commended the BMS Educational Trust and BMS Academy for Professional Courses for instituting the awards and bringing attention to the contribution of teachers and principals.
As part of the event, 100 teachers and principals from State, CBSE and ICSE schools were felicitated.
Justice Magrey said the contribution of teachers could not be fully measured by awards, adding that their real impact is reflected in the lives and confidence of their students.
He urged parents, administrators, policymakers and civil society members to view the occasion as a reminder of their collective responsibility towards teachers.
“A society that wishes to prosper must invest in its teachers: in their dignity, their continuous learning, their working conditions and their well-being,” he said.
Justice Magrey also traced the educational legacy of the BMS Educational Trust, recalling its origins in 1946 and the establishment of B.M.S. College of Engineering by Late Sri B. M. Sreenivasaiah.
He said the legacy was subsequently expanded by his son, Late Sri B. S. Narayan, into institutions covering law, science, commerce, architecture and management.
Concluding his address, Justice Magrey said the “true Dronacharya award” would continue to be given silently in classrooms through the lives of students whose teachers helped them understand difficult concepts, overcome challenges and dream bigger.
He congratulated the award organisers and paid tribute to the teachers and principals honoured at the ceremony.
