Uttam Teron, The Man Behind Parijat Academy!

One day he left his job and with a paltry amount of Rs 800 which he gathered from his tuitions, he started Parijat Academy in 2003 with four children in his old cowshed with just a tin roof and bamboo wall, a pair of desk and bench and one blackboard.

Being from another tribe, I had hardly heard his name and never tried to know his extraordinary work. Thus, one day I visited Parijat Academy, a school for underprivileged children for some official work and then I came across a man with right vision, stwillpowerpower, the unsung hero, a man to be inspired off, man to be salute for his noble work for society and selfless man who lighted up the darkness.

This is the story of Uttam Teron. Born and brought up in Pamohi village of Assam, he belongs to the Karbi tribe. Just an ordinary man who decided to spend his life for the underprivileged children. He loved teaching, thus invest his leisure time in teaching the poor children. “There was no money!” he said. And started working in a private company which was not his ambition. One day he left his job and with a paltry amount of Rs 800 which he gathered from his tuitions, he started Parijat Academy in 2003 with four children in his old cowshed with just a tin roof and bamboo wall, a pair of desk and bench and one blackboard.

But every time money appeared as the huge barrier in his dream to achieve 100% literacy in the village. But this did not in any way discourage him. His parents would remind me time and again then that such work would bring no money and repeatedly say, ‘Think twice before going long-term; do not trouble us or yourself’. But being completely disappointed from the government schools, his dream became stronger with time. He says, “The students could not even spell properly and some were even irregular in the government primary school”

 

THE CHALLENGE

Frustration, tension and crises hunt him day and night with the increase in the number of children. It means the need for extra classrooms, furniture, teachers’ honorarium and so many other things. But he would get a grip on his patience and keep telling himself, ‘I cannot spoil these children’s futures; they have come to learn at Parijat Academy’.” Uttam would visit various government schools, institute, an organisation seeking for help and collect old books, notebooks, used furniture, old clothes, shoes and socks, used school bags, whatever useful he could find for the school.

 

FRUITS TO STRONG DETERMINATION

Parijat Academy which started with just 4 children has today flourished to more than 500 students and 25 teachers. The schools have been recognized as the best schools in 2013. The school adheres to normal school timings and have classes from Nursery up to class 10 offering subjects like Assamese, Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and artwork. Besides, programmes like computer learning, sewing lessons for girls, sports, dance and library are also offered. Also, he has opened a free hostel facility for the poor underprivileged student. Every little thing is taken care at its best especially the extra-curricular activities. In a true sense, I was surprised to see the creativity level of students and zeal in the little children eyes toward a bright future. The seed sawn by Uttam Terron, is giving fruit with time pace.

 

 HE DREAM CONTINUES:

He dreams of achieving a 100 percent literacy in the village, then in the nearby village and finally the entire state. And planning to include higher secondary at Parijat Academy but financial crisis being the barrier is stopping him to proceed with the dream. “I am happy Parijat Academy is creating awareness on education. When children come for admissions to the school, our teachers help in filling up the admission forms as most parents are illiterate. The parents now value education. It gives me instance happiness creating opportunities and eradicating illiteracy from his motherland”.

He always says the human being is God for me, they are the survivor. Uttam’s exceptional work is being recognised far and wide. Visitors like NASA astronaut Michael Fincke, who is also a colonel of the US Air Force, and volunteers from afar often visit the school to see its functioning. In 2011, Uttam was also awarded the CNN IBN Real Heroes Award for his contribution to society.

Uttam rightly concludes, “Education is a birthright. It can change a person’s life; it can change a village.”