“The distance between my home and school is 14
kms. It was pretty difficult for me to travel this far daily. In absence of a
proper road and other resources, 15 years ago I decided to take the help of a
mule. Since then, every single day, I commute with it,” said Ratanlal Nanda.
Ratanlal Nanda is posted as a teacher
in Dindauri district’s Sanjhaula village. He suffers from a congenital defect
of feet. So, it is by the sheer willpower he daily travels an arduous route of seven kms from home to school.
During a talk with Gaon Connection Ratanlal informed that
to cover the distance of 14 kms he takes a minimum of four hours. He said: “Each morning, I set out for the school
at 9 AM and I reach school by 11 AM. I teach from 11 AM to 4 PM and thereafter
leave for home. By the time I reach home, it turns six in the evening. Due to
my disability I can’t even ride a two-wheeler.”
Ratanlal added that even the road is
not suitable for a two-wheeler. He faces lot of difficulties during travelling
with a mule — uneven terrain interspersed with streams and fords to cross.
“Despite such terrible setback, we
hardly ever find sir not coming to teach,” Ratanlal’s school student, Kedar, said.
A villager, Dukhu Singh, said: “Many a times, the mule gives up during the
journey, but Ratanlal, till this date, is steadfast. All of us have entreated
the politicians and government officials, but still the village doesn’t have a
proper road.”
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When the District Education Officer
Ravendra Mishra was contacted, he said: “Ratanlal is the pride of the education
department and an inspiration for the region. He is a teacher of primary school
at Sanjhaula and has been coming to the school on a mule for several years now.
We have decided to felicitate him this Independence Day.”
The school in which Ratanlal teaches
is in a sorry state. The roof leaks and may cave in any time. When inquired
about this, Ravendra Mishra informed, “As a temporary measure, old school roof
has been covered with a plaster. At the same time, a new school building is
being made near the old. The building fund has already been sanctioned. Very
soon, classes will begin in the new building.”
Gaon Connection tried many times talking to the DM of
Dindauri district regarding the poor state of road and school but could not
speak with him.
