Ameet Kumar Bali
In today’s fast-paced, result-driven world, teachers often find themselves caught in a cycle of criticism. They are questioned for seeking transfers, scrutinized for punctuality, and even blamed for the academic results of students – as though they alone hold the reins of every outcome.
But in this noise of judgment, how often do we pause to ask, who really understands what our teachers endure every single day?
It is with a heavy heart that we remember three brave educators, two from Udhampur and one from Handwara, who lost their lives while on their way to school. These were not ordinary journeys; they were journeys of commitment, of purpose, of silent patriotism. These teachers were heading to serve not just in classrooms but in some of the most difficult conditions our system has to offer.
Their tragic passing reminds us that teaching in India, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas, is not just about lesson plans and textbooks. It is a role that demands immense resilience, sacrifice, and unrecognized courage.
Beyond the Classroom: The Many Hats Teachers Wear
What many fail to see is that teachers are not just educators – they are multi-taskers serving the nation in countless other capacities:
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during elections, responsible for voter verification and electoral roll updates in their areas – often covering hundreds of households on foot, under pressure and tight deadlines.
Election Duty Officials, who leave their homes and families, often for several days, to serve in far-flung polling stations with minimal facilities and high expectations.
Mid-Day Meal Supervisors, ensuring hot, nutritious food is served daily to dozens or even hundreds of students – managing not just distribution but also hygiene, stock, and accountability.
Clerical and Administrative Work, maintaining records, filling data into multiple online portals, compiling reports, and responding to inspections – all while balancing teaching hours.
Emergency and Disaster Response Roles, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, where teachers turned into frontline warriors – managing quarantine centers, conducting door-to-door surveys, awareness drives, vaccination duties, and more.
Deployment in Yatra and VIP duties, crowd control, security assistance, and administrative support during events like the AmarnathYatra or other local religious gatherings.
Yet, despite wearing so many hats, they’re the first to be questioned – and the last to be appreciated.
Unseen Burden: The Never-Ending Wait for Promotions
Adding to their challenges is a deeply demoralizing reality, the endless delay in their promotions.
In many departments, regular promotion is a matter of seniority and routine. But for teachers, getting just one promotion from Teacher to Master often takes more than 20 years, sometimes even an entire career. Files remain pending, seniority lists are delayed, and deserving educators retire without receiving what they earned long ago.
This lack of career progression not only affects morale but also reflects how little we value the profession that builds every other profession. While others climb ranks smoothly, teachers wait silently – their dedication unrewarded, their growth stagnated.
Do We Protect the Ones Who Shape Our Future?
When teachers are sent to far-off, unsafe, or difficult regions – away from their own children and families, often without transport, accommodation, or basic amenities – their requests for transfers are dismissed, and their struggles go unnoticed.
But when tragedy strikes – as it did with our three brave colleagues from Udhampur and Handwara – there is a deafening silence.
Who stands up for their safety?
Who acknowledges their burden?
Who salutes their daily struggle, their silent tears, their quiet determination?
Let Us Not Wait for Another Tragedy to Reflect
The sacrifice of these educators is not just a moment of sorrow – it is a call to action. A reminder to society, to the system, and to every citizen that the people building our nation’s future deserve more than accountability – they deserve empathy, protection, fair treatment, and respect.
They are not asking for luxury.
They are not demanding applause.
They are only asking for dignity, safety, timely promotions, and humane treatment.
Let us salute these three fallen heroes, and in doing so, honor every teacher who rises each day to serve in tough terrains – not just as educators, but as administrators, social workers, caregivers, election officers, and patriots.