President honours two Odisha teachers on Teachers’ Day in New Delhi

On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, President Droupadi Murmu honoured two teachers from Odisha at the National Teachers’ Award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

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Basanta Kumar Rana, a dedicated teacher from New High School in Kondel, Malkangiri, and Tarun Kumar Dash, a faculty member at PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya in Koraput, received the national recognition for their outstanding contributions to the field of education.

The ceremony, held annually on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, celebrates the unwavering commitment and impact of educators across the country.

This year, a total of 45 teachers from different states and union territories were selected for the honour. The awards highlight excellence in teaching, innovative classroom practices, and dedication to students’ growth.

President Murmu, herself hailing from Odisha, personally handed over the awards and appreciated the role of teachers in shaping the future generations. The recognition of two educators from Odisha is seen as a proud moment for the State’s academic community.

“I would like to thank the Principal Sir, HM (headmaster) Sir, and all students of this school. One entry alone was sent from Bhubaneswar to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and the Sangathan had recommended five names from the State to the Union Ministry of Education,” the Koraput school teacher said to OTV when contacted.

“I feel proud that I am among the five teachers from Odisha for this national recognition. Recently, I got a phone call from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan informing me that I have been selected for the award,” awardee Tarun Dash stated.

“Hundreds of my school students have always been my source of inspiration to proceed further, and they are everything to me. We have produced a number of short films, which have received national recognition in the past,” the teacher added.