Teachers are known for their dedication and sacrifice, and no hurdle can deter their indomitable will. We have seen examples of teachers going above and beyond to carry out their duties.?
If anyone needed anymore proof of their undying commitment, this should serve as one of the biggest examples.?Sukumaran TC, a teacher?in Kerala, treks through dense forests to reach a tribal hamlet to teach?children of ¡°Kattunaykar" community in Pulpally of Wayanad district.?
He might be an ordinary?man, but his motivation to educate children is extraordinary.?
It was back in 2001 that Sukumaran was given the task to teach tribal students within the forest area of Chekkady in Wayanad in a single-teacher environment, IANS reported.?
When Sukumaran reached the place, he witnessed an unusual welcome -??people in the colony ran inside their thatched huts, dilapidated and unclean. The Kattunaykar community which lives deep in the forest does not have any contact with the outside world and it was an initiative of the then District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) in Kerala which made the teacher reach the tribal settlement.
¡°It was a long wait in the colony, men, children, and women went inside and I could see them looking from inside their huts through small holes but they were not coming out. I was determined and waited and waited, finally, a woman Kali, came out and befriended me. I told her my mission- it was to start a single-teacher school within the colony for tribal children and she readily agreed, Sukumaran told IANS.?
When he first started teaching there in 2001, there were only two students.?
Sukumaran who lives in the Pulpally panchayat has to walk 7 km through dense forest to to reach the school. It was a walk of 7 km one way and 7 km back - 14 km a day and salary when he was posted was Rs 750 a month and payment was erratic, maybe once in three or four months.??
Also read:?Teacher Gets Memorable Farewell From Andhra Tribals, Is Carried On Shoulders As Mark Of Respect
Sukumaran used to bathe his students, cut their nails, hair and also cook food for them. The tribals of that area were averse to taking baths those days and they never used to cut their hair and nails. While I used to bathe them and cut their nails a special bonding developed between the colony people and me and I decided that I will continue with my life here," he said.?
What used to be a shanty back in the day, has now been converted into a concrete building with facilities including television sets for the children and the apprehensions are gone.