Alipurduar, Nov. 5: The vision was lost, but grit and determination had seen Jalodhar Barman through life.

Five-year-old Jalodhar thought it was the end of the world after he lost his vision to chicken pox. However, within a year he picked up the threads even as his day labourer father struggled to make ends meet, and went back to school. That was 17 years ago. Today, Jalodhar joined as a teacher after clearing the School Service Exams, an inspiration to the students of Hemkumari High School in Haldibari, where he will teach history.

In Sonar Dham village in Falakata, the Barmans are now looked upon with awe and respect. Dhirendranath Roy still earns around Rs 70 a day, but he is a proud man. His son has made it as a school teacher. “I always knew, he would do something worthwhile,” said a beaming Dhirendranath.

Jalodhar had read up to Class VIII in Cooch Behar Nilkuthi Special School, moving to Cooch Behar Town High School from where he scored 81 per cent marks in Madhyamik.

He got 62 per cent in the Higher Secondary exams and then took admission to Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Calcutta. After a BA honours in history, Jalodhar got himself admitted to MA in Jadavpur University. He is yet to clear his final exams. “But I hope to complete my MA. I had used writers for all exams and learnt by hearing,” said Jalodhar.

Khitish Roy, the sabhapati of Falakata panchayat samiti, had lent his official car to Jalodhar to help him reach his school, 85km away. To Jalodhar, his family had always been a source of inspiration.

“My father had to slog it out as a day labourer. He sold the only two bighas of land that he had for his children. My two brothers dropped out of school at the age of 10 to help my father. My sister is reading in Class XI and I will help her realise her dreams. I am grateful to Tushar Maharaj of the Narendrapur college for guiding me.”

For Jalodhar, the fight does not end here. “I had always wanted to be a bureaucrat. Last year, I had appeared for the West Bengal Civil Service Examination, but did not get through. This year, I will study harder,” said Jalodhar, who wants to do research on the history of north Bengal.