Students bid farewell to celebrated inclusive educator Tapas Mohanty

Students at Bhima Bhoi Blind School in Bhubaneswar recently organized an emotional farewell for Tapas Kumar Mohanty, a highly respected special educator. Mohanty dedicated 34 years of his professional life to teaching children with visual impairments. He served across various government schools and non-government organizations throughout his long career. His students honored his deep commitment to their academic success and personal growth. Over the last three decades, Odisha has made steady progress in making classrooms accessible, and dedicated professionals play a major role in this transition.

Creating Accessible Learning Materials for Students: Developing practical study resources always remained a primary focus for Mohanty. He compiled essential educational texts, including the "Braille Word Book - Part I" and "Braille Word Book - Part II". Furthermore, he authored "Learning Braille - Part I" and "Learning Braille - Part II" to help younger students master reading. His innovative approach extended to digital learning when he created the audio version of the "Pariksha Darpan Test Paper". This specific resource helped Class X students prepare for their Odisha Board examinations. The Odisha School Education Programme Authority subsequently uploaded this audio material to the DIKSHA application to benefit visually impaired learners.

Recognising Exceptional Contributions to Special Education: Government bodies frequently recognized his specialized knowledge. The Government of India presented him with the National Award to Teachers in 2020. Prior to this, he received the State Award to Teacher from the Government of Odisha in 2015. Other notable honors include the Gurushree Award in 2014, the Ability Award in 2018, and the Dronacharya State Award in 2023. Mohanty also contributed to regional policy frameworks. He served as a selected member of the State Committee for implementing the National Education Policy 2020 in Odisha.

Building Teacher Capacity across Regional Institutions: Working alongside major educational institutions allowed him to share his expertise. He contributed to training modules with the Regional Institute of Education in Bhubaneswar and the State Council of Educational Research and Training in Odisha. By training other educators, he ensured visually impaired children received proper instruction. His retirement marks a milestone for Bhima Bhoi Blind School, but his study materials remain.