Gandhi Jayanti Special: A 60-Year-Old Man's Unique Commitment to Education
Diwadhar Churpal, 60, has been providing quality education to the children of Sargibahali village for the past 10 years. His dedication, inspired by Gandhi's ideals, is not only shaping the future of the children but is also becoming a source of inspiration for society.
Purushottam Patra, Gariaband | In the Sargibahali village of Devbhog tehsil, 60-year-old Diwadhar Churpal has initiated an extraordinary campaign to provide quality education to the village's children over the past 10 years. This year, he is teaching 25 students in the primary school, along with three students in the sixth grade. The children affectionately call him "Aja." Aja's classes are held twice a day, from 7 to 9 in the morning and 5 to 6 in the evening, and they run regularly.
Recently, Diwadhar fractured his left leg in a bicycle accident, and his leg is in a cast. Nevertheless, his classes have not stopped for even a single day. Although classes are occasionally disrupted during the rainy season, Churpal's dedication to education remains unwavering.
Sacrifice and Service: An Inspiration for Society
Diwadhar Churpal completed his higher secondary education in 1965 and considered Gandhi Ji his ideal. After being posted as a teacher at Nuaguda Primary School in 1973, he left his job for social service. He was elected as the sarpanch of Usripani in 1979, where he brought roads and electricity to the village. He contested the Janpad elections in 1982 and served as the vice-chairman until 1988. He opened several schools in various villages and played a significant role in establishing a high school in Jhakhrapara. For the past 10 years, Churpal has been teaching children and says, "I will continue the work of imparting education until my last breath."
Showing the Change: A New Light in Society
Even today, most students in the village's government schools lack basic education such as literacy, multiplication tables, and the twelve-times table. However, the children of Sargibahali village are better in this regard compared to those from neighboring villages. Inspired by Gandhi Ji's ideals, Diwadhar Churpal has made education his priority. His efforts are not only shaping the future of the village's children but also becoming a source of inspiration for society, highlighting the importance of education.
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