New Delhi: In the Indian civilisational tradition, the Guru has always held a place of profound reverence. A Guru is not merely one who imparts knowledge, but one who illuminates the path through the darkness of uncertainty, teaches us to face the changing tides of life with patience and wisdom, and helps us discover the person we are meant to become. Guru Purnima is a celebration of that timeless bond—a day to remember with gratitude those who have shaped our thoughts, values and lives.
On the occasion of Guru Purnima, we spoke with writer, social worker and thinker Aditya Tikku about the meaning of the Guru, the lessons of life and the enduring strength of family. Speaking about his own understanding of the Guru, Tikku reflected on his mother and said that, for him, she is his Guru.
The stability, patience and perspective with which he approaches life, he believes, have their roots in the values he received from his mother and the emotional strength offered by his family.
Tikku says that he continues to learn from his mother even today. For him, life is an ever-changing journey. Every moment brings transformation, and change is an inherent part of existence. Circumstances evolve, time takes on new forms and life introduces us to experiences we may never have anticipated.
Yet, in this constantly changing world, there are relationships whose roots lie beyond time and circumstance. For Tikku, family is one such bond.
He believes that no matter how far life takes us, our emotional connection with our family must remain intact. Education, employment and the demands of life may take people to different cities or even different countries. Physical distance may stretch across thousands of miles, but it should never find its way into the heart.
“Distance from family may exist in miles, but never in the heart,” is a thought that lies at the heart of Tikku’s philosophy of life.
According to him, the more deeply a person remains emotionally connected to the family, the more secure, content and balanced he feels within. Family, he says, is not merely a collection of blood relations. It is an emotional space where a person can place not only his achievements but also his failures, without fear of judgment.
Life brings with it many turning points. There are moments of triumph and moments of disappointment, times of happiness and periods of struggle. These are all part of the natural rhythm of existence. In such moments, the values instilled by family and the warmth of belonging help a person remain connected to his roots.
Tikku’s understanding of the Guru is closely connected to this philosophy of life. He believes that the meaning of a Guru cannot be confined to a single individual. Parents, teachers, life experiences and even our failures can become our teachers. Anyone or anything that teaches us to look within, gives us the courage to remain rooted in our values during difficult times and inspires us to become better human beings, becomes a Guru in its own way.
For Tikku, his mother embodies this spirit most profoundly. The lessons he has received from her have taught him to accept the changing nature of life while preserving the sanctity of relationships. He believes that no matter how dramatically circumstances change, remaining connected to one’s family and values can become one of the greatest sources of inner strength.
Speaking about the relevance of the Guru in today’s world, Tikku observes that while access to information has grown enormously, the need for wisdom and direction has not diminished. The younger generation today has countless ways to learn about the world, but information and knowledge are not the same.
Information can fill the mind. Knowledge can enrich life. But wisdom helps us understand how that knowledge should be used.
This, he believes, is where the true significance of a Guru emerges. A true Guru does not merely show the path to success; he or she introduces us to the values that give success meaning. A true Guru does not make a person dependent, but gives the individual the confidence and strength to stand on their own feet.
Tikku also believes that not every influential person can be called a Guru. A true Guru is one whose teachings make a person more compassionate, humble and responsible from within. The greatness of a Guru is not measured by the number of followers they have, but by the number of lives they inspire and transform for the better.
For him, respect for the Guru cannot be confined to a single day. The true tribute to a Guru lies in allowing the lessons received from them to become visible in our conduct and character. Gratitude towards a Guru must not remain merely in words; it must find expression in the way we live.
His message to the younger generation is rooted in the same belief. He says that it is important to move forward in life and pursue success, but not at the cost of becoming disconnected from one’s roots. In the midst of modern life’s demands, remaining connected to one’s culture, values and family is what gives a person inner strength.
He encourages young people to respect their parents, learn from their experiences and seek the company of those who inspire them to become better human beings. Circumstances, he says, will continue to change, but staying connected to one’s people enriches the inner life of an individual.
In Aditya Tikku’s reflections on Guru Purnima, reverence for the Guru is inseparable from faith in the family. For him, the Guru is not a distant or abstract idea, but a light within life that continues to guide us through changing circumstances. And the first touch of that light, for him, came through his mother.
The essence of his message is simple yet profound: no matter how far life takes us, we must never lose touch with our roots. If distance is inevitable, let it remain geographical—not emotional. For when a person remains connected to family, values and roots, even the most difficult circumstances cannot shake the faith within.
On Guru Purnima, perhaps the most profound message in his words is this: Never forget the hands that once showed you the light. And when that light comes to you in the form of a mother, there can perhaps be no greater Guru and no greater blessing in life.
