Teacher for 7 decades, 102-year-old, class 7 pass out! Padma Shri winner 'Nanda Sir' sets an example in field of education
A round of applause echoed around the Darbar Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan when 102-year-old Nanda Prusty, blessed President Ram Nath Kovind while receiving the Padma Shri award.
Total Views |
Nanda Prusty has been conferred the Padma Shri award for his contributions in the field of education. Age being above 100, teaching for almost seven decades, his story is inspiring indeed. Besides, this is no easy feat to receive the prestigious award.
Coming from the Jajpur district of Odisha, Nanda took education up to class 7. Later, his maternal uncle got him a job opportunity in Cuttack. However, his father disapproved, so Nanda stayed back and worked on his father’s farm. But, this did not stop him from preaching the importance of education in his village.
Fondly known as 'Nanda Sir', he decided to help the students in his village free of cost and taught many generations of students through the tradition of Chatisali, an informal form of school education that is still being kept alive. This noble gesture came after he noticed when he used to work in the farm and there were many people in his village who were illiterate. "They were not even able to sign their names and could only do thumb impressions. I called them just to teach them how to sign but many showed interest and started to read the Bhagavad Gita. I now teach the great-grandchildren of the students of my first batch," Nanda was quoted as saying.
He teaches the children Odia alphabets and a bit of mathematics. Children attend till 9 am and then again from 4 pm to 6 pm. He takes classes up to class 4, after which he recommends they join a primary school to continue their education. Senior citizens, mostly illiterate, come to the Chatsali at 6 pm and the classes continue till 9 pm.
"I would find children loafing around. They were all illiterate. Since I did not have much work, I started teaching them under a tree. There was no school then. Initially, I had to run after them, but soon they themselves started coming to the class,” he said. “I will continue teaching the children as long as my health permits,” said Nanda.
Though the sarpanch offered him infrastructure from where he can teach comfortably, Nanda has been denying these offers as he prefers to sit under the old tree. "He has been teaching for the last 75 years. He refuses any support from the government as teaching is his passion. But we’ve decided to build a facility where he can teach children in comfort,” the Bartanda sarpanch said. While sitting outside can have its own disadvantages, Nanda is not deterred by the heat, the rain or chilly weather, and continues to teach, according to the sarpanch.
Speaking about earning the honor, Nanda said, "I am delighted at being chosen for the Padma Shri award. I did not know about it till a few reporters of some vernacular dailies told me about the honour. I had never imagined that the award will be bestowed on me."
His unwavering enthusiasm towards teaching has become the subject of a documentary by noted filmmaker Pranab Aich. Posters of the 70-minute film that will be screened this year were released in Jajpur district recently.
The inspiring story gives goosebumps!