Teachers are known to be the people you look up to right after your parents. A teacher plays a significant role in steering and preparing a student for the hardships of life. While there are some who just perform their duties, there are a few who go the extra mile for their pupil.
We are here to narrate a similar story where a teacher beats all odds to train his student.
According to Times of India, Ranjinikant Mendhe, a government-appointed teacher, travels a taxing 50 km daily. And even inspiring, to teach a single kid!
29-year-old Mendhe goes through the back-breaking ride on his bike to reach the village of Chandar in Bhor. His student, Yuvraj Sangale is an 8-year-old living in the village which has just 15 huts and is situated 100 km away from Pune.
However, Mendhe’s journey is not as easy as you think. Overcoming a 12 km
mud-track, hills with 400 ft feet drop on both sides and snakes is what takes him to reach his destination! Speaking about the same Mendhe said,
“One night, a snake dropped on me from the school’s roof. A few months later, while riding my bike on the mud track, I fell on a snake. I don’t think I will survive a third encounter.”
To add to the adversity, there is no electricity in the village. However, Mendhe’s undying spirit has enabled him to impart ‘E-learning’ with the help of some wires and a small TV set.
“Village officials provided us with a 12-volt solar panel about two years ago. I use it to power a TV that screens downloaded content. I later bought two tablets to boost Yuvraj’s interest in the world beyond.”
After sorting out all these problems, Mendhe faces a tough task of bringing Yuvraj to school. According to the devoted teacher, Yuvraj hides behind trees to avoid schooling at times. But he stands by his student.
“Other children learn and play with those of their age, but Yuvraj has just me. For him, school has become four walls with empty desks.”
The heart-touching story gives us a reason to salute our teachers who guide and groom us. The world needs more gems like Rajinikanth Mendhe.