Kumbi is a small hamlet nestled between lush green farmlands that stretch towards gentle blue hills, intersected by the Khuga river. But beyond the idyllic scenery lies a story of transformation, one that echoes the famous lines from Mark Twain’s The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson:
“Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.”
The young minds of Kumbi, in Manipur, have found a gardener who has made it his life’s mission to harvest education for a better tomorrow. On a Sunday morning, you will find him hosting a group of children as they learn more than just the syllabus prescribed in their textbooks.
Khangembam Indrakumar Singh, or Indrakumar Oja, as he is popularly known in the constituency (‘Oja’ being the local word for teacher), joined the Kumbi Sandhong Upper Primary School in 1995 and was soon appointed acting headmaster. Back then, it was a lower primary school, with Indrakumar becoming only the second teacher on campus. In 1998, determined to make a strong difference, he decided to employ WC Bobychand Luwang as an additional teacher, paying him a portion of his own salary.
“He cared for his students, treating them like his own children. He would even visit the homes of students who weren’t attending school regularly to understand their circumstances. Additionally, he organised extra classes, including on Sundays, for those who struggled with their studies,” Bobychand says.
“Indrakumar Oja respected his profession deeply and approached his role with great seriousness. Because of his dedication and hard work, the people in our community hold him in high regard and love him dearly. He is not just a teacher; he actively participates in any initiatives or campaigns that benefit society,” he adds.
Bobychand is happy to play a small role as a teacher for students who, he asserts, are the future of the nation. Students who went on to be successful brought immense joy to both Indrakumar and Bobychand.
“My aim is to bring some change in my society,” Indrakumar says, explaining how most students in his school come from economically weaker backgrounds. Many of these students, he notes, are slow learners due to a lack of additional guidance and often lose confidence or develop a dislike for school. Some eventually drop out.
According to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2021-22 report, the dropout rate among primary students in Manipur was 13.3 percent, while the rate for upper primary education was 5.6 percent — significantly higher than the national average of 1.5 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
“A lot of the students in the school are first-generation learners. For them, learning in their early years can be a difficult task. Their parents are not literate and cannot provide the necessary guidance,” Indrakumar explains, adding, “I used to see many of them drop out of school.”
This led him to build a hostel for children needing additional guidance. Indrakumar also runs a Sunday classroom that culminates with a campaign to safeguard the environment. His efforts have earned him a National Award, but the journey for Indrakumar remains fraught with difficulties.
Levelling the playing field for all students
With a shortage of staff to cater to all the needs of students at the primary school, Indrakumar hired six additional teachers between 1998 and 2013. With three children to raise, this initiative created a significant financial burden. There were days when the additional strain raised concerns in the household, his son Khangembam Chinglensana Singh recalls.
“At the time, a bakery had opened in the neighbourhood. My mother decided to sell bakery items in Kumbi and neighbouring villages,” Chinglensana shares. “There were some concerns, but we all knew that my father’s dream was a righteous one. We continue to contribute in whatever way we can,” he adds. Indrakumar, too, helps sell the bakery items after school hours. In fact, he even sold a portion of his own land to ensure there was no fund shortage.
Indrakumar was never confined to the classroom. When he wasn’t imparting lessons, he taught students the importance of humility, cleanliness, and hygiene through his actions. From carrying water on his bicycle for the students to cleaning the school, Indrakumar wants to instil in them that no work is too small.
After a decade and a half of selfless pursuit, in 2013, the Manipur Government recognised Indrakumar’s service and honoured him with the State Teacher’s Award. The accolade reinvigorated his drive, leading him to start a new initiative — an annual constituency-based competition for students every December, including essays, quizzes, maths, and sports.
“Private school students often have infrastructural advantages. My father wanted government school students to be able to compete on par with others. That’s why he started the competition,” Chinglensana explains.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Chinglensana is pursuing a career aimed at educating and training children. His current position at ‘Lend A Hand, India’ allows him to be part of a vocational training module for children in Nagaland. “I wish to gather the necessary experience so that I can help my father in a better way,” he says.
Addressing student dropout rates
In 2018, the school was upgraded to an upper primary school; that same year, Indrakumar received the National Teachers Award for his contributions to primary education. However, the problem of students dropping out at such young ages continued to trouble him, prompting him to seek a solution.
“I called the parents of the children studying in my school. I wanted to do something to stop them from dropping out,” he says. “I had decided to build a boarding facility, but I needed monetary help to run it.”
In the meeting, a monthly fee was decided for the resident students. The hostel began with one warden and 28 students. Currently, the facility houses three wardens, who also teach at Kumbi Sandhong Upper Primary School, and caters to 75 students.
Along with the boarding facility, Indrakumar launched his Sunday lessons, which culminated in campaigns on environmental awareness and protection.
The lessons were started as an initiative to broaden the perspectives of students at a young age. Supported by district education officials, students are taught local lessons outside their textbooks each week. Topics include the history and demography of Manipur, the role of Loktak Lake in maintaining the ecosystem, and the importance of Sangai (an endangered subspecies of Eld’s deer found only in Manipur). The classes are conducted by guest speakers ranging from corporate professionals to psychological counsellors.
Indrakumar also uses his Sundays to spread awareness about sustainable practices, such as waste management and the need to protect the environment.
“Over 4,000 trees have been planted by my father and his students,” Chinglensana says. Indrakumar started the plantation drive with the help of the forest department on World Environment Day (June 5) in 2018, and the initiative continues to this day.
The 56-year-old teacher and his students have also been educating the residents of Kumbi about the importance of waste segregation. As part of their Sunday environmental campaigns, they can often be seen picking plastic from riverbanks and farmlands. “There are nine wards in the Kumbi Municipal Council. My father started by collecting plastic waste, like bottles. He targets one of the nine wards every Sunday,” Chinglensana explains.
“Some people have since registered with the municipal council and are segregating waste,” he adds. On other days, with the help of his students, he travels with banners and a microphone, urging people to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
“They (children) are the future of the world,” Indrakumar says, explaining how he overcomes fatigue despite the difficulties: “I believe I can bring some positive change to my society. The rewards education brings can change lives forever. Just thinking about this makes me happy. It drives me to do more.”
With his unwavering dedication, Indrakumar inspires not only his students but also the entire community to envision a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Edited By Pranita Bhat; Images: Khangembam Indrakumar Singh
No comments:
Post a Comment