Teaching is the Highest Form of Leadership

Teaching is the Highest Form of Leadership

Today was a day of milestones. Madhura, who was admitted to playgroup at Kidzee last year, stood confidently on stage at the Madgulkar Hall of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation during Kidzee’s annual day function. Watching her perform with such poise filled me with pride and gratitude.

Now, as she prepares to step into nursery at PICT Model School, another chapter begins. The orientation program introduced us to the school’s vision and the thoughtful plans educators have designed for each child. Principal Abhira Mishra opened the session, followed by Ms. Ranjit Kaur, and together they painted a picture of holistic development—academic excellence balanced with creativity, values, and resilience. It was inspiring, but also a reminder that this journey is a shared responsibility. Teachers lead, children grow, and parents must walk alongside, embracing the guidance and challenges that come with it.

Kidzee has already sown the seeds. They nurtured Madhura with care, infused her with confidence, taught her manners, and encouraged her creativity and inquisitiveness. As a grandfather, I feel immense gratitude toward the Kidzee teachers, the aais, and the administration staff. Their dedication has prepared Madhura for this next step. Now, the sapling is being transplanted into the fertile soil of PICT Model School, where it will continue to grow and flourish.

This transition is more than just a change of schools—it is a living example of the theme I hold dear: Teaching is the highest form of leadership. Teachers do not merely impart knowledge; they shape futures. They plant seeds of possibility, nurture them with patience, and trust time to bring the bloom. Parents, too, are part of this leadership journey, supporting and reinforcing the values that schools instill.

When I see Madhura’s confidence on stage, or listen to the vision of her new educators, I am reminded that leadership is not about authority—it is about belief.

• Belief in the unseen greatness of every child.
• Belief in the power of values and creativity.
• Belief in the long journey of becoming.

In my classroom, I saw not just students, but seeds of possibility. I never underestimated any innocent learner seated before me. In my heart, I always believed: this student may one day touch the sky of glory, may rise to heights unimaginable, may become anything he or she dreams to be.

At that particular moment, they might not have known certain things. They might have struggled with concepts, hesitated in expression, or lacked confidence. But I respected them nonetheless, for I knew that time has a way of nurturing hidden potential. In due course, each would find their path, discover their strengths, and begin their ascent.

The knowledge I imparted was never the final destination—it was a stepping stone, a foundation. Like water and sunlight in a garden, it was meant to nourish growth, not dictate it. My role was to plant seeds of curiosity, values, and resilience, trusting that they would bloom in their own season.

Over the years, I have been blessed to witness this flowering. Some of my students became successful entrepreneurs, building enterprises that touch lives. Others earned their Ph.D. degrees from prestigious universities across the world, contributing meaningfully to their fields. Each achievement was a blossom in the garden of greatness, reminding me that the quiet faith of a teacher can bear extraordinary fruit.

I have also observed my colleagues—brilliant minds who achieved spectacular success in business, enterprise, social service, and political life. Their journeys, too, became part of this garden, offering lessons and inspiration. From each, I tried to trace the common thread of success: not merely talent or ambition, but values, resilience, and purposeful action.

The greatest privilege of a teacher is not only to impart knowledge, but to believe in the unseen greatness of every student. To respect them in their innocence, to nurture them in their struggles, and to rejoice when they bloom into their destiny.

A garden of greatness is never built in a day. It grows quietly, season by season, until one day the seeds we once planted stand tall as trees, bearing fruits of wisdom and service. And in that moment, the teacher’s faith finds its fulfillment.

And so, with gratitude for the past and hope for the future, we continue our journey with Madhura—capturing moments of learning, leadership, and growth. For today, Madhura’s new beginning is not only her milestone, but ours too.

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Pune, February 28, 2026

#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats