Against all odds: On a hilltop in Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur; 2 teachers trek 4 hours to keep the tricolour flying high | Raipur News

RAIPUR: High up in the rugged hills of Balrampur district, far from paved roads and city buzz, a little government primary school stood tall with tricolour hoisted top in pride. stands as a quiet beacon of hope. Braving the challenging terrain every single day, two dedicated school teachers in one of the remotest villages in Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh ensure to hoist the national flag on 79th Independence Day.They not only hoisted the national flag with pride but also brought sweets and goodies to celebrate the occasion with students.When there are reports of teachers coming to school drunk and making a mess on premises before the students, this Bachwar school has two teachers who walk nearly four hours every day to keep both the school and the spirit of the education alive.The school, perched on a hilltop in Bachwar village under Khadiya Damar panchayat, has just 13 students — all tribal children from nearby hamlets. But that doesn’t deter teachers Pankaj Ekka and Shyam Sai, who have made it their mission to ensure no national festival goes unnoticed in this remote corner of north Chhattisgarh.On August 15, the duo trekked their usual two-hour route through thick forest, across a river, and up a winding

pagdandi

trail. After hoisting the national flag, they distributed sweets and goodies, turning the school courtyard into a miniature celebration ground.“For us, it’s important that the children feel the same pride and joy in national events as students anywhere else in the country,” says Ekka, who got his first posting at this school in 2010 and never left, even as others sought transfers to more accessible postings. “The journey isn’t easy, but it has become part of our lives.”The challenges are daunting: the path is broken, riddled with potholes, and cut through dense forest. The Channan river, which runs along the way, is mercifully shallow enough to cross, but the surrounding wilderness often makes the teachers uneasy. “Sometimes the forest gives us goosebumps,” Ekka admits with a smile.There’s no kirana shop in the village of 20-25 houses, hence, the teachers have to carry all the I-Day material on their back.Despite the odds, they rarely miss a day. While outsiders may take three hours to reach the school, the teachers, now hardened by routine, do it in two. After teaching Classes 1 to 5, they encourage their students to pursue further studies at nearby residential schools.The school was set up in 2005, and over the years many teachers have left, unwilling to cope with the daily ordeal. But for Ekka and Sai, their commitment has outlasted the hardships. “Every morning we set out knowing we’re not just teaching lessons but also giving these children reasons to dream and explore,” Ekka says.And every Independence Day, as the flag rises against the hilltop sky, those dreams seem just a little closer.District education officer D N Mishra said, “This is a very touching gesture that teachers are taking such initiatives on a daily basis. I have requested all the teachers in district to ensure that they celebrate national festivals even if they are located in remote areas.”