J.P. Khare, a visually impaired teacher at Marwari College, shows his certificates. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, Sept. 4: On the eve of Teachers’ Day, here is a guru who questions the very sincerity and nobility of the “profession”.

Jai Prakash Khare (50), a visually impaired teacher in the political science department at Marwari College, feels the negative repercussions of the student-teacher relationship are affecting the society at large. “Earlier, teacher-student relationship have been looked upon with awe and inspiration but today the society is not gaining anything from it,” he said.

Khare, who got the best employee award in 2006 by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, said, though he had not faced any problems from the students because of his disability, he feels sincerity has suffered. “Education has deteriorated and we cannot blame one person for this. The community is responsible as a whole,” he pointed out.

A political science teacher with a BA, MA, PhD, and postdoctoral research fellowship in tribal development, Khare feels the society has become more materialistic. “Everyone is running after money and few are serious about the profession,” he said.

Khare, whose siblings have also lost their vision, was not sent to special schools. “Under the Rajiv Gandhi Integrated Education Policy, all children, including the disabled, should study together. Hence, my father sent us to normal school,” he said.

Khare has never felt that they were looked down upon in the society and were suffering in isolation. Sometimes they were experienced prejudice, which he took in a positive way. “It helped us grow mentally,” Khare said.

A professor at Marwari College for the past 10 years, no one has questioned his style of teaching yet. “In fact, the principal of the college, Javed Ahmed, has always encouraged me. Even the former Governor of Bihar, A.R. Kidwai, had played a vital role in transferring me from Vinoba Bhave University to Ranchi University in 1997,” he added.

The teacher, who has become a source of inspiration for the visually challenged has not missed a single class so far. “At one time, I would take 24-25 classes from the Intermediate to the graduation-level. But I was never discouraged and continued to work,” he said with enthusiasm.

Khare has not got any recognition from the Ranchi University yet. But for Javed Ahmed, the principal of the college, said there could never be a teacher more sincere than him. “Khare is a torchbearer for everyone. No teacher here is as devoted as him,” he said.