In the heart of Basantpur, a small village in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhman district, one man is proving that retirement doesn’t mean stepping away from responsibility. At 76, Dwijendra Nath Ghosh refuses to rest, dedicating his golden years to ensuring that no child in his village is denied an education. Without pay, without support, and against all odds, he runs a school single-handedly—offering knowledge as a gift, not a privilege.
“I am the most ordinary man you will ever interview,” Ghosh humbly claims. But his extraordinary efforts tell a different story. A retired government teacher, he has chosen an unconventional path for retirement—continuing to educate children every single day.
For over a decade, Ghosh has been the driving force behind Basantapur Junior High School, preventing its closure despite a lack of permanent teachers and funding. His unwavering commitment
Born into a financially unstable family, Ghosh experienced firsthand the struggles of pursuing education with limited means. “I grew up in a poor home, where even affording food was a challenge. Education was a distant dream,” he recalls. Determined to break the cycle, he pursued his studies against all odds, earning a B.Ed. degree and master’s degrees in English and Political Science.
His passion for teaching began early. In 1975, alongside five friends, he opened a school for underprivileged children. However, financial constraints forced him to step away and seek employment elsewhere. The decision weighed on him, but he vowed to return to his mission someday.
In 2008, upon retiring as an assistant teacher from Jamalpur High School, Ghosh returned to Basantpur. What he saw disheartened him—children still lacked access to education, traveling long distances or dropping out altogether. Many belonged to marginalized communities, facing discrimination and hardship.
Determined to bring change, he petitioned the government for a school. His persistence bore fruit in 2010 when approval was granted, though bureaucratic delays stalled construction until 2014. “Government work moves at a snail’s pace,” he notes. Despite lack of support from political leaders, it was the village’s poorest residents who came together to build the school.
Even after the school was built, the struggle was far from over. The biggest challenge? A shortage of permanent teachers. “If I left the school unattended, it would shut down,” Ghosh explains. Thus began his unpaid journey of teaching full-time, ensuring that the school remained operational.
Today, Basantapur Junior High School has around 140 students but only four temporary teachers. “There is a nationwide shortage of teachers, and small government schools like ours suffer the most. With meager salaries, no one wants to come and teach in a remote village,” he says. According to a UNESCO report, India faces a shortfall of over a million teachers.
With an annual government grant of just Rs 25,000—barely enough to maintain the school—paying teachers remains a distant dream. Ghosh shoulders the responsibility, volunteering his time and effort without expecting financial reward.
Despite his relentless dedication, Ghosh remains uncertain about the school’s future. “How long can I keep running it this way? Without permanent teachers, we are fighting an uphill battle,” he admits. The stakes are high—not just for education but for the lives of the village’s young girls, who, without schooling, might face early marriages.
Guest teacher Uttam Babu, who has worked alongside Ghosh for over a year, marvels at his perseverance. “Decades after retirement, his zeal for teaching remains untouched. Despite receiving no salary, he keeps going,” Babu says.
For Ghosh, his reward lies in the eyes of his students. “The glimmer of hope for a better future is all the salary I need,” he smiles.
As Basantapur Junior High School continues its battle for survival, one thing remains clear—Dwijendra Nath Ghosh’s selfless dedication is shaping a brighter future, one child at a time.
Comments