How is the life of a district-level award-winning teacher?

The respect that teachers demand has faded over time thanks to private sectors and tutorials that are run in every street of major cities. There are, however, school teachers who are still respected for their profession rather than looked at as mere employees in the work sector.

On my all-India cycle tour, I had the privilege of meeting Mr Tanaji Salaskar who is a school teacher in Malewad village in Sawantwadi district of Maharashtra. Apart from being the physical education teacher at the school, he is also the maths teacher there, handling classes for 8, 9, and 10th-grade students.

I accidentally happened to stumble upon him when I approached his house members requesting to pitch a tent outside for the night. I was warmly invited to stay inside the house and was taken care of like a family member. When I got to learn that he had multiple awards to his name in sports and also the best teacher award in the district, I was curious to know what the life of such a person could be.

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Beginnings of a district-level award-winning teacher

It wasn’t all easy for Tanaji sir in his childhood as his father had his left side of the entire body paralyzed due to excessive alcohol consumption. He had one elder brother and one elder sister who along with him were taken care of by his mother since the time he was in his 2nd-grade schooling. He was schooled until 8th grade post which his mother requested him to drop out from school unable to bare the expenses. Poverty was at such extreme during that time that they didn’t have enough money to eat 2 square meals a day. His mother would work in the farms to raise just enough money to sustain the family.

At the time, as his Aunt’s (mother’s sister) side was well off, they asked him to come over to their place and continue his education in exchange for work at their farms. From Masudi Male which is his hometown, Sategaon was only about 10 Km away. He continued his education at his aunt’s house from there on. His routine however was hectic. He would wake up at 5 in the morning, clean up the buffalo shed, milk them, and deposit it in the local dairy. He would also have to go back and put the feed to the buffalos later. By the time he was home and got ready to have his breakfast, it would have turned 10 AM.

Despite this hectic schedule, Tanaji sir completed his ITI course as a 2nd ranker and earned a job inspector post. However, he realized the lack of a future in the line of work and decided to pursue 11th and 12th in science (PCM). The college was in Varnanagar which was 12 Km away and he would go there cycling each day post the hectic morning schedule. As he was educated in Marathi medium, Tanaji sir said that it was difficult for him to initially get used to studying in English. He however completed his 12th and went on to get a BE seat for a price of 22000 rupees a year. He was denied help from his aunt as it was too much money at the time. Recalling this memory, Tanaji sir told that he could have been helped but probably aunt’s side thought about their children more than him which was fair enough. All the while as he was explaining his story he seemed to be speaking lightly and joking now and then. It seemed like he had taken up the difficulties as challenges and enjoyed facing them.

Tanaji sir said he eventually went on to enrol for a BSc degree in Physics. His life became tougher as his studies got harder. He would have to study till 11 PM and wake up at 5 AM to work in the farms. All that with commuting to college by cycle. On some days he would have to sleep by 2 AM to complete his practical records. Sir remembered that as he had to leave for college by 10, he always skipped his first class which was English. Sir said that eventually, his teacher gave him a lot of support. Appreciated him for the work he was doing alongside studying and went on to keep his records at college as an example for the upcoming batch of students.

Tanaji sir was exhausted at this time. He still attempted to complete his MSc in optics from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. He had to go 25 Km from home to college by bus and then walk 6 Km to college as there was no bus further. He could not afford 3 rupees for an auto at the time. Sometimes when practicals got over late, he would reach home late after an exhausting day. He couldn’t go on further this way and eventually quit college after 1st year.

As Tanaji sir had an interest in sports, he decided to enrol himself in the BPEd program which demanded 17000 rupees as fees. Sir said he had two good friends who helped him with 2000 rupees each while his mother and aunt contributed 5000 each. He went on to pay the rest of the amount only after completing college, he fondly recalled.

Job application of a district-level award-winning teacher

Tanaji sir passed out from the BPEd program in 2003 May. He couldn’t go back to his Aunt’s place as he felt he was harassed there. So he decided to stay back at home where he requested his mom to cook food for him or he would leave and arrange for something elsewhere. Looking at ads in the paper, he got to know that there was a job opening in Chiploon, Ratnagiri district, in an English medium school for a Math teacher position. He attended the interview and cleared it easily. He was not only paid 3000 rupees salary which was a big amount then, he was also given huge quarters and a mess facility for only 600 rupees a month. Sir seemed excited when he told that there was a huge quarters that was given to him. It was as though he hadn’t seen one and it was afforded to him without expectations. He didn’t stay back there for too long as he figured that it wasn’t a government job and hence wasn’t secure. His goals were clear. He wanted to be a government servant even if it had to be a peon.

Further looking for more ads in the paper, he saw that there was an opening in Malewad village of Sawantwadi district. The requirement was a Bsc + BPEd which seemed like a hand-tailored job for him. Although he could clear the interview there, as the college was run by a cooperative society, they demanded a sum of 1 lakh rupees donation for the job. At the time, as Sir did not have that amount of money in his hand, he sold half an acre of land that was derived from his parents to make 84000 rupees. He requested a 16000 rupees loan from his brother and got admitted as a Math teacher cum physical education teacher in Malewad in July of 2003. He said he later went on to hand over 20000 rupees to his brother soon after he started earning.

In 2005, Tanaji sir got himself married taking a loan of 70000 rupees for which he would turn out to pay a down payment of 1500 a month. They would pay 300 rupees for house rent which left them with 1200 rupees remaining from his salary. He said that amount was plenty at the time to run the house. When in 2006, his job became permanent, he started earning 11000 rupees a month. This is when he purchased a TV and his splendor bike on loan and started a family. Eventually, sir told that in 2008 he got back half the acre of land that he had sold and also purchased a house in his hometown, Masudi Male, in 2012. Today, he said that by the grace of God, he earns as much as 92000 a month. From wanting to be at least a government peon to becoming the Head Master in a school, Tanaji Sir’s story was truly inspiring.

The thought process of a district-level award-winning teacher

Tanaji sir continues to teach both physical education and Maths to kids even to date in the same school he started working in 2005. He says although he is not talented in Maths, he knows how to get the students to work hard and do well in exams. He said he has disciplined a lot of kids and their parents respect him for that. In close to 2 decades in Malewad, he has earned a reputation in the village and is acknowledged by the entire village. His students still stay in touch with him and he feels good when they come and thank him for all that he did for them. Tanaji sir had his eyes wet as he spoke about his old students who acknowledged him for his teaching.

I had listened to the entire chronology of his life. It was clear that he had lived a dramatic one. A story where he was burnt to ashes but rose a phoenix thanks to his resilience. I was curious to hear about what his thoughts were on some of the questions I had to ask on his personal front.

Justifications

On being asked why he is doing whatever he is doing, Tanaji sir told that 4 people depend on him. His wife, 2 children, and his mother. Having to take care of them is his duty. He said he doesn’t want to do anything for himself as God is with him. He only wants to provide the best for his family.

After saying that, Sir also paused and told that he wants to give back to society in some way. He said, “If there is a hungry man, I will make sure I hand him food. It hurts me to see people staying poor”. He explained how he had spent time in his life when there was no food to eat at home and no kerosene to burn light even. The house would be dark most of the time and it would get lit only when they had to eat food so that they could save kerosene. The experiences he has had in his life have impacted him deeply. It hurts him to see people living that way.

Validations

I asked Tanaji sir if he does anything to gain appreciation. He told he doesn’t put the effort to gain appreciation but it happens by itself and he feels happy when he gets appreciated. Sir is an accredited cricketer, especially a good bowler. He has won many awards during his lifetime playing cricket. Several times when tournaments take place, people want him on their team and if he isn’t playing people who come to watch, ask for him. He said it feels really good when he takes a hat-trick and the team wins. He has done that for two years. He seemed to be living the moment when he was explaining about his achievements.

Complaints

I asked sir what his biggest complaints in life were. He replied saying he has just one complaint to God. He said he has been given everything in his life. He trusts he has only done good in his life, but for his child, God hasn’t given the best. His elder daughter has speech and hearing problems which he said was his complaint to God.

He also said that probably God sent her to him as only he is capable of taking care of her. He said he requests God for some inspiration and that would be enough for him to do his best to take care of her well.

Materialism

On being asked what he would do if he happened to get an extreme lot of money in his life, Sir replied saying that he would want to do something for both his janma bhoomi (his homeland – Masudi Male) and his karma bhoomi (workplace – Malewad). He would want to make the place known across India. He said that would be the efforts he would put in with the money if at all he ever got it.

Tanaji sir ended with a message. He said it would be wise from a well-off person’s end to help the poor as much as possible. We have to do our best to provide food, shelter, and clothing to them.

Tanaji sir’s story was truly inspiring. Although he had been through tough times in his life he came out of it without much complaints. Sir told he even enjoyed his tough times. Anybody else in his place would have succumbed to pressure. I learnt that It is the characteristic traits of the individual that makes their life easy, not the conditions they are subjected to alone. I got reminded of one another person who had been through tough times and looked at it as a challenge and worked her way out of it (read this article).

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Asutosh

I am a 31 year young PhD graduate who has decided to travel the length and breadth of India on my cycle, to document the journey of meeting a vast array of people. In my journey, I intend to understand the characteristic features of the people of this nation and categorize them based on their demographics, age, profession, gender, traditions, and cultural differences.