Balangir: In an exemplary dedication to duty, a government school teacher in this town has been teaching for 34 years without taking a day’s leave.
Meet 60-year-old Trilochan Mahapatra, who retired as Hindi teacher from Government Town Boys’ High School in Balangir this week.
Mahapatra’s dedication to the school that he fondly referred to as “home” was so much that he even paid for his farewell feast, which was attended by hundreds of students and teachers.
In fact, he lived in a room on the school premises and visited his family in Loisinga block once a week.
“I didn’t take a single day’s leave since I joined the school in 1987. Even on holidays, I used to take care of the plants in the school,” Mahapatra was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
Mahapatra’s colleagues credit him for the lush greenery on the school premises.
He is also credited with changing the perception of the school from one of “slow learners” from underprivileged families to good academic results.
Talking about the transformation, Mahapatra said, “Once I checked the social and financial backgrounds of the students. I found that there was only one student whose father was a clerk in a government office. The parents of the other students were labourers. After that, we started an admission drive by promoting good things about the school. Now, many students have passed out with good results.”
Mahapatra’s former students include ex-Works Minister of Odisha Muzzafar Hussain Khan and noted social worker Srikara Mishra.
A teacher at heart, Mahapatra now wants to work for the development of education in his village after his retirement. He has also decided to set up an orphanage with the help of his doctor son.
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