This year, Teachers' Day feels different to me. I have seen many such days come and go during my academic life, usually marked by greetings from students, a few affectionate messages, some flowers, perhaps a small ceremony, and then a return to the familiar rhythm of lectures, meetings and departmental work. But this year there is an added emotion. Retirement is now very close, and what was once an ordinary annual observance has become a moment of reflection.

Retirement changes the meaning of routine. A classroom that once seemed part of everyday life suddenly begins to look precious. A casual conversation with a student, a question after class, even a familiar walk through the corridor acquires a different significance when one knows that these moments are becoming fewer. Teachers' Day, therefore, is not merely a celebration this year. It is also a reminder of how quickly decades pass.

When one begins teaching, the concerns are practical. Prepare the lecture, complete the course, set the examination, supervise students, conduct research and meet........

© The Express Tribune