Avadesh Kumar Singh

Four of Jharkhand’s best mentors will spend Teachers’ Day on September 5 in the company of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

According to a list announced by the Union ministry of human resource development on Thursday, Avdhesh Kumar Singh of Ranchi, Ganesh Lal of Lohardaga, Munni Ram of Palamau and Vijay Kumar Shukla of West Singhbhum are Jharkhand’s quartet to get the national award for teachers.

The prestigious ceremony marks the birth anniversary of late S. Radhakrishnan (1888-1975), India’s second President and a distinguished teacher of philosophy.

Initially, 20 names had been sent from the district education offices to the state, which whittled it down to eight. Then, these were sent to the Centre, which picked the final four, who will visit New Delhi to receive the award, which carries a medal, a certificate and Rs 25,000 as cash prize.

The quartet will leave for New Delhi on September 1.

Singh, a science teacher of St John’s High School, Ranchi, said the feeling had yet to sink in. “I am glad we got recognised for our services,” Singh, a resident of Ratu Road, said.

The veteran teacher has written 13 books for students from Classes VI to X, including Textbook of Chemistry, Basic Facts of Chemistry, Experimental Chemistry and Experimental Mathematics.

“What gives me satisfaction is when poor children do well after my free coaching services,” he said.

Lal, assistant teacher of Rajkiyakrit Madhya Vidyalaya, Senha, Lohardaga, said: “I was able to bring down dropout rates in our school by involving children in extra-curricular activities. We ensure that our students take part in the state programmes, including foundation day.”

He has also taught English well enough for his students to speak the foreign tongue. “But I have a long way to go,” Lal modestly said, adding that plantation drives carried out by him, involving the community gave him great pleasure.

Ram, headmaster of Rajyakrit Madhya Vidyalaya, Murkatwa in Palamau and Shukla, assistant teacher of Utkramit Plus Two Ucch Vidyalaya, Jhikpani in West Singhbhum district, have also been selected for their commitment in the classroom and outside it.

Human resource development department deputy secretary Balendu Bhushan Anandmurti said: “The list is strictly based on merit.” He added the state-level selection committee had seven members, which sent eight names to the central award committee, which handpicked the final four.

Doctor award

Professor and head of community medicine department of RIMS, Shamim Haider, will get the Dr S. Radhakrishnan Memorial National Teacher Award on Teachers’ Day in New Delhi, with seven other doctors from across India.