Balaram Das teaches children at a village school in Kendrapara. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Oct. 10: For four decades, a 62-year-old man has been teaching children for free at a remote village in Kendrapara.

Balaram Das, lovingly called guruji at Gobindpur village under Rajkanika tehsil, carries forward his mission to educate all with missionary zeal. Pedalling his way to the village school on a bicycle, Das arrives at Gobindpur Upper Primary School by 10am.

Das does not figure in the list of teachers of the local government primary school. While others draw handsome salaries from the government, Das has volunteered to teach for free. He has been doing it for four decades in an exemplary show of community spirit.

“He is an excellent teacher. His method of teaching children is unique. After teaching, he always ensures that each student is able to comprehend the classroom teaching. He is widely loved and respected in the village,” said Ashok Kumar Sahu, headmaster of Gobindpur Upper Primary School.

Officially, no outsider is allowed to teach in government schools. But, Das is doing an honorary job with due permission of the schools and mass education department. The school management committee has authorised him to teach. In a symbolic gesture, Das is lately being paid Rs 500 a month as honorarium.

“He had declined to accept the sum. But, when we requested him, he hesitatingly took it,” Sahu said.

“I have always believed that lack of education is the root cause of all evils and malaise. Our village had no access to primary education. There were many school dropouts. Many children failed to go to schools because their parents were poor. In 1971, I mobilised parents of dropout children and began teaching them. My perseverance later paid dividends. The poor parents began sending their wards to school. After the government set up a school in the village in the late 70s, I took up classroom teaching on villagers’ demand,” Das said.

Das took to agriculture to support his family and the villagers also helped him voluntarily.

“Many spontaneously gave him money by which he could get his two daughters married,” said Subhransu Sutar, a social activist.

“Balaram guruji is an ideal teacher. He sacrificed his prime to make everybody literate here. He is a role model for of us. His inspiring teaching leaves a lasting impression,” said Harekrushna Sahu, teacher of a government-run primary school.