Bhubaneswar, Sept. 5 (UDN): For some teachers, the classroom is more than a place to teach lessons—it’s where hope is rebuilt, confidence is nurtured and futures are transformed. This Teachers’ Day, two inspiring stories from Odisha highlight how determination, compassion and selfless service are changing the lives of children despite the challenges of disability and poverty.
A teacher who never let blindness define him
At Kudutai Upper Primary School in Ganjam district’s Jagannathprasad block, students don’t see their teacher’s visual impairment—they see a mentor who fills their classroom with music, stories and encouragement.
Kailash Chandra Sahu, who has been visually impaired since birth, has spent the last 15 years proving that determination can overcome even the toughest barriers. A native of Gudiali village near Rajsunakhala in Khordha district, he pursued higher education despite severe financial hardships before beginning his career as an Education Assistant at Kudutai Primary School in 2011.
Today, he remains at the same school, where his innovative teaching methods have earned him immense affection from students.
Using Braille books, songs and activity-based learning, Kailash ensures that lessons remain engaging and accessible. His approach has created an environment where curiosity flourishes and children feel supported beyond academics.
“I always want to be with my students and help them make their parents proud. I try my best every day to support them in every possible way,” he says.
His students believe his disability has never limited his ability to teach. Sonali Behera, one of his students, says his guidance has helped many children perform well in their studies while making them feel valued and cared for.
A school built on compassion, not fees
Hundreds of kilometres away in Bhadrak district, another remarkable effort is quietly transforming lives inside the Charigharia tribal settlement.
Here, retired teachers and young social workers have created a free school for children from economically vulnerable families, many of whom migrated from Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts in search of work. Their parents earn daily wages, making formal education difficult for many children.
What began in 2009 with a single student has grown into a learning centre serving around 50 children from Classes I to IX.
The teachers receive no salary, and the students pay no fees.
Beyond English and Odia, the children are taught personal hygiene, cleanliness and life skills that help build confidence alongside education.
Puja Birua, one of the students, dreams of becoming a police officer. She says the school has taught her not only subjects but also how to take care of herself and prepare for a brighter future.
Parents, too, see the initiative as a lifeline. Geeta Rani Birua says they want their children to receive the education they never had and build lives free from the hardships their families continue to face.
Retired lecturer Radharani Mohapatra, one of the driving forces behind the initiative, recalls that the mission began with a simple belief—that no child should be denied education because of poverty.
The true spirit of Teachers’ Day
The journeys of Kailash Chandra Sahu and the volunteer educators of Charigharia reflect the deeper meaning of teaching. One has transformed his own challenges into a source of inspiration, while the others have built a school sustained entirely by compassion and commitment.
Together, they remind us that education is not merely about textbooks or examinations—it is about empowering children to dream beyond their circumstances and giving them the confidence to shape a better future.
Leave a Reply