He lives in darkness, but holds up the torch for many fighting various odds to study.
Meet sightless Sam Hansda who teaches Santhali in Odisha backwaters.
An orphan who was born blind, the 37-year-old has not allowed his handicap to deter him from pursuing higher studies. Already armed with a master's degree in Santhali from Ranchi University, Hansda is now eyeing a PhD in the subject from Sido Kanhu Murmu University in Dumka, actively searching for a guide.
Hansda was in Jamshedpur on Saturday on an invitation from Astitwa, an NGO, which helped him complete his graduation.
"I teach 400 students between Class I and V at Purneshwar Nodal Primary School in Sorgoda village of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha. It's been a year since I got the job and am enjoying every bit of it," Hansda told The Telegraph.
"I get Rs 5,000 as monthly salary and work from 10am to 4pm. I live alone at one of my relatives' houses in the village and walk a kilometre to reach the school," said Hansda.
Does he face problems while teaching? "Well, I do face problems but have to carry on. I am happy to teach Santhali. I have learnt to live with darkness," Hansda, whose parents passed away when he was just three, said.
Hansda, who loves old classics of Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi, has a strong zest for life - he climbed a 12,000ft mountain in Uttarakhand and even performed a parasailing stint with Tata Steel Adventure Foundation at Sonari aerodrome.
Coming to Jamshedpur in 1998 may just have been his turning point.
"I developed a liking for Jamshedpur and started staying at LBSM hostel with my friend Sunaram Tudu. My friend helped me get admission in the National Association for the Blind (NAB) in Sakchi. I studied in Braille lessons and completed my matriculation through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in 2000. I completed my intermediate and graduation from LBSM in 2008," he added.
Astitwa got in touch with Hansda in 1998, when he was staying at LBSM hostel. "We came to know about his (Hansda) interest in studies and decided to help him," recollected Astitwa general secretary Sulekha Aikat.
Astitwa also found a job for him at Kalamandir, a Bistupur-based NGO. "I worked at Kalamandir as a receptionist on a monthly salary of Rs 600 and started preparations for my PG," said Hansda
Saluting Hansda, Astitwa treasurer Nirmal Prabha Sethi said he was an inspiration even for those with sight. "Just imagine this man's zest for life. He wants to study further," she added.
