Honoring an Elderly Teacher from Uri

There are so many retired elderly teachers in our Kashmir valley who had made a great contribution to the society but regrettably received no recognition. Although many of them have died, nonetheless, a good number of such exemplary elderly educators still live anonymously with us. No doubt, they are duly respected, and sometimes are made to represent people in their communities, yet, behind their frail and feeble individuality dwells a great personality that embodies the values of dedication, compassion, honesty and wisdom, etc. One such admirable elderly teacher whose inspirational story I don’t want to remain simply untold is Haji Badruddin Banday Sahib who hails from the picturesque village of Sader Mohalla in Nambla, Uri away at some 51 kms from main Baramulla town at the left bank of river Jhelum.

Haji Badruddin Banday, Retd. Teacher

Born on 12 April, 1949, Haji Badruddin Banday who is currently 77 years of age, has taught and inspired hundreds of students vis-à-vis earned reverence not only from the places where he was posted at, from time to time but all over Uri. Haji Sahib’s commitment to his community, his unwavering dedication during his service in the department of education, and his gentle demeanor makes him a beloved and respectable figure in the whole society even today.

Appointed as a teacher on 1st March, 1973; Haji Badruddin Banday has had an opportunity to serve various institutions in Uri town at a time when there was no transportation at all. The strong-willed and determined Haji Badruddin used to toil tough to walk on foot longer distances to teach his students with zeal and zest. Irrespective of the hardships on un-trodden paths that he always endured with a smiling face; he was a duty-bound educationist, a God-fearing pious human being, always dedicated and in time to his classrooms.

What matters the most is that he used to cover pretty long distances that too in hilly areas where giving duties has always remained a challenge. Bereft of any untoward circumstances, he kept navigating the path of education and excellence. What seems impossible for the teachers, who are currently serving the department of education, was done by Haji sahib with ease. For instance, during his 1st appointment as teacher in Govt. Middle School, Salamabad, Uri; he had to walk 20 kms to and fro on foot from his edifice at Nambla, and while his posting at GPS, Gawhallun, he had to go 17 kms on foot back and forth for 4 long years.

My first encounter with Haji Badruddin Banday sahib is still etched in my memory. I fondly recall, it was 23rd of December, 2020 when I met him at Dewan Bagh, Baramulla for the first time. It was evening time when this fair complexion gray-haired 6 feet tall elderly stepped in my elder brother’s house. Truth be told, he was so kind and nice towards us that from that meeting on I would meet him quite often like a close friend.

How apt is this idiom that birds of same feather flock together which means that people who share similar interests, backgrounds, etc tend to associate with each other. During those winter months, he visited his son’s house in Baramulla frequently, and never missed to catch up with me. During his stays at Dewanbagh, he would usually take me on a stroll out on the Jhelum bank with him to stir fruitful conversations. At times, when he would not find me around, he would enquire about me and then search me in the nearby Masjid where we later spent time to share each others’ stories.

Committed to his noble profession of teaching, Haji sahib’s passion for educating children in Uri, his hardships during his service, patience, empathy, discipline, humility and honesty was praiseworthy. Upheld with highest standards of integrity and ethics, still everyone treats him with high esteem, kindness and dignity, regardless of his fragile figure.

Not only is Badruddin sahib a role-mode retired elderly teacher but I had seen him an excellent grandfather and father-in-law as well. He loved his grandchildren so much that he himself used to purchase stationery, books, etc. for them besides teaching them & putting prayers profusely for their bright future during Salah. He had a dream those days, I recollect, and that was to see his lad Mushtaq’s eldest son Anees, become a doctor. As an ideal father-in-law, he loved and treated his daughters-in-law equally and brought for them the essential commodities himself whenever he came to Baramulla.

I still remember him having advised me once that as a teacher, I should be honest and dedicated towards my sacred job, treat others with kindness, and cultivate love and affection for learning among the students who come from very poor families. He also advised me that I should always put in my best efforts to enlighten my students in the class and never dupe them because if we deceived them, Allah will deceive our kids in return.

To conclude, there is a multitude of Haji sahib like old teachers whose selfless devotion to teaching has transformed the lives of hundreds of students but didn’t receive the recognition, they deserved. Come, let’s acknowledge and honor these unsung heroes who have given so much to our society without any fame or reward. Saluting them, all.

Manzoor Akash is educator and author from Rafiabad