Jharsuguda, May 25: At an age when most people retire from active work, 72-year-old Santosh Pradhan continues to dedicate his life to educating children in remote tribal villages of Odisha’s Jharsuguda district. Despite studying only up to Class 9 and having no formal teaching qualification, Santosh Sir has been imparting education free of cost for more than three decades, transforming the lives of hundreds of students.

A resident of Kiritmal village under Remta Panchayat in Lakhanpur block, Santosh Pradhan began teaching at the local government upper primary school after financial hardship forced him to discontinue his own education in 1971. Determined that poverty should not deprive children of learning, he took up chalk and blackboard as his lifelong mission.

For the last 33 years, Santosh Sir has been teaching students from Classes 1 to 8 without receiving any remuneration. From basic alphabets to complex subjects like mathematics, geometry, trigonometry, English and science, he explains lessons with remarkable ease through self-learning and dedication.

Besides academics, he also guides children in moral education and participates in various social awareness programmes, including health campaigns in rural areas. His simple lifestyle has further earned him admiration among locals. Even today, he walks barefoot from village to village and school to school to teach students.

Many of his former students are now serving in prestigious positions across different sectors, including education, police, engineering, public sector companies and the armed forces. Several government officials attending school functions in the area have publicly praised Santosh Sir for his selfless contribution to society and education.

Despite living a modest life with limited ancestral land and depending largely on agriculture, Santosh Pradhan has never stepped away from his responsibility towards educating children. His unwavering commitment continues to inspire generations in the region.