Pamohi, Assam
Tribal Educator
By Ratnadip Choudhury
Until eight years ago, education was an alien concept for the tribal kids of Pamohi village near Guwahati. Now, they aren’t afraid of reaching for the sky, thanks to Uttam Teron. “The men in the village used to work in a stone quarry and the women sold rice beer. Earning two square meals was such a challenge that educating their children was a distant dream,” recalls Teron. So, the tribal graduate started the Parijat Academy in a cowshed with four students in 2003. Now it has more than 500 students, all getting free education. This year, the first batch will appear for matriculation exams. “I had to try hard to convince the parents to send their kids. Many laughed at me, others ignored me. Slowly, the mindset changed. Now, the tribals look up to the school,” he says. Money was a stumbling block, so he visited government schools in Guwahati and collected used books and uniforms. Those who came to know about his initiative started donating in cash and kind. “We need blackboards, sports gear, generator, etc,” says Anjani Teron, a Class VIII student. “The government has done nothing. For us, the Parijat Academy is a blessing.”
TERON MAY BE REACHED AT +91 98640 41711
