A teacher with a difference

Ashok Prajapati, principal of a junior high school in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district, could have gone about his job like many others of his ilk, who are known more for absenting from schools rather than focusing on teaching.

But Prajapati, whose school is at Pareshra village, about 90 km from Lucknow, had something different in mind along with teaching, which, according to him, is the noblest of all professions. “A teacher has many roles in society. It is his moral responsibility to contribute to the development of society and play an instrumental role in strengthening not only education but also health, hygiene and nutrition,’’ he says.

A President medal award winner for his contribution to the field of education, Prajapati is a motivator in the village on issues such as health and nutrition. “A teacher has great influence on society. His words are taken seriously by the people.

He enjoys enormous respect and is thus in a better position to influence the thinking process of the people,’’ Prajapati told DH.

And the best way to contribute to the development of society, according to him, is to lead from the front. So when a Technical Support Team (TSU) was looking for a public space to organise a special Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) session in April this year, Prajapati came forward to lend a helping hand.

“The team members wanted space as there was no place in the village where such a session could be organised. I agreed when team members asked me if I could offer them the school premises for the session,’’ he said.

Prajapati not only provided the much-needed space to the TSU, but also actively participated in the event. The team, seeing his enthusiasm, entrusted him with the task of distributing nutritious supplements to pregnant women. While distributing jaggery, gram and fruit to pregnant women, Prajapati emphasised the importance of adequate nutrition.

“Given Prajapati’s status in the village,  pregnant women look up to him as a guardian. The families of pregnant women took the event more seriously because of his involvement,” said a TSU member.

The 60-year-old principal also undertook various other activities. He  oversaw rangoli making and engaged women and their family members in informative sessions on maternal health. And that event was a huge success. “Awareness about health and sanitation together with discipline are an integral part of a complete education,” he says.

Prajapati also got the school walls painted with inspirational messages on issues such as the importance of cleanliness and hand washing. “These messages are not just on the walls of the school. I have made sure that children inculcate them,’’ he added.

A postgraduate in English literature and political science, Prajapati joined the state education services in 1971. The urge to do something for  society had been ingrained in him since his childhood.

 “My inspiration is my father. A social worker himself, he used to say that teaching involves many other activities. Apart from just gaining knowledge from books, one has to be taught to be a good citizen and do whatever he or she could for society,” he said.

Prajapati, who lost his only son in an accident, said that the loss, though was tragic, gave him more inspiration. “Now my students are my children. The loss brought me closer to them,” he remarked.

Prajapati has adopted six disabled children and takes care of all their needs. “I am their father. I have taken upon myself to look after them. They are like my real sons and they also treat me like their father,” he said.

Although he does not earn much, yet he makes sure that the requirements of his “sons” are taken care of.

“My salary may not be much by modern standards but it is more than enough to support them. As I do not have any bad habits, I save a bit and spend it on them,” he said.

Prajapati spends a part of his income on some amenities at his school. “We know that the government budget is not enough to provide all facilities to  students at the school. So I do many things from my own pocket,” he said.

No wonder, when the district education officials once visited his school they were taken by surprise to see the well-painted walls, a neat and clean toilet, fans in every classroom and other amenities. “Why did you spend money from your salary,” the officials asked. “It gives me immense pleasure to be able to do something for the students,” was Prajapati’s reply.

Now, there were around 250 students in the school. The fame of the school has spread to nearby villages and more students are seeking admission. Prajapati knows that what he is doing is only a fraction of what needed to be done. “I plan to increase my social activities after retirement,” he says.

Prajapati wants others from teaching community to play similar role in social development. “If we do our bit then we can change society completely,” he said.

Unfortunately, a majority of the teachers do not think like Prajapati.