National award-winning former headmaster Subhash Chandra Rout’s unconventional teaching methods continue to inspire and transform education at Brundaban Government High School in Markandpur village of Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district.
For much of his teaching career, Subhash Chandra Rout relied on innovation to engage his students. The kids had fun, and they would pick up concepts by seeing them in action. The teacher’s ideas inspired changes in how classrooms approach literacy and education in a Odisha school.
Rout, the 60-year-old former headmaster of Brundaban Government High School (BGHS) in Markandpur village of Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, etched innovation into the fabric of the institution during his tenure.
His legacy, including initiatives like ‘ring the bell, drink water’, ‘sabudina school jiba (let’s go to school every day)’, and ‘my book, my buddy’, continues to resonate within the school’s walls, even after his retirement on June 30 this year.
Rout, once a physical science assistant teacher at Purohitpur High School in Jagatsinghpur, joined BGHS as headmaster in September 2020. Even before taking the helm, he had a knack for making science engaging, using humorous stories, captivating anecdotes about scientists, and educational rhymes. His unconventional teaching methods earned him a state award in 2005.
Upon assuming his role as BGHS headmaster, Rout embarked on a mission to breathe new life into the school. The bond between teachers and students strengthened, and attendance surged. His remarkable efforts culminated in his selection as one of the 75 teachers nationwide to receive the prestigious National Award for 2023 on Teachers Day.
When Rout first took charge, BGHS faced numerous challenges. The school had just one toilet for 228 students and 20 teachers, a dilapidated structure with a single water tank, and a library with a mere 200 books. The science laboratory was ill-equipped, and during the rainy season, the premises turned into a collection of puddles, forcing classes to be suspended for nearly two weeks.
Undeterred, Rout pledged to transform the school with the support of the district administration.
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“We got the building renovated, with five overhead tanks and three toilets each for boys and girls, one for teachers, and two composite ones were installed,” Rout said.
Former Jagatsinghpur collector Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, now additional secretary of the school and mass education department, lent his support for the ventures, acknowledging his dedication to improving the school.
“We supported his endeavours during my tenure, looking at his zeal to improve his school,” Mohapatra told Village Square.
Rout’s determination knew no bounds. He sought aid from Paradeep Phosphates Limited, leading to the establishment of six additional classrooms under the government’s Mo School Abhiyan (My School Mission). Indian Oil Corporation Ltd joined the cause by installing a water cooler, a freezer, and multi-tap arrangements.
The headmaster’s mission extended to fostering a love for books among students. He introduced a ‘my book, my buddy’ initiative that began by expanding the library’s collection to 2,556 books, with a central government grant of Rs 25,000 under the Padhe Bharat, Bhadhe Bharat scheme. The programme’s e-library component established an online link with the State Virtual Academy, providing access to Odia classics, products from the National Book Trust, and other books. Government funding of Rs 75,000 and an additional Rs 2 lakh under the 5-T (Teamwork, Technology, Transparency, Transformation, and Time Limit) initiative empowered Rout to upgrade the school’s science laboratory and enhance its computer setup.
Rout’s keen observation revealed a concerning issue among his students — an inadequate intake of water. Dehydration, dry skin, stomach aches and other health problems were plaguing the children.
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He read a report from the European Safety Authority, which recommended daily water consumption for students aged 9-13 years. Rout noticed that his students were drinking far less than the recommended amounts. To address this issue, he introduced a programme that allowed students to hydrate between classes.
“My ‘ring the bell, drink water’ initiative mandated that the school bell would ring after two periods for students to drink water in front of teachers,” Rout said.
Innovations continued to flourish under his guidance. His ‘sabudina school jiba’ idea consisted of singing and zero period activities, aimed at increasing student attendance. The former encouraged teachers and students to sing songs, rhymes and couplets to elucidate concepts through music. Both teachers and students were encouraged to compose songs. On the other hand, zero period activities, conducted every Saturday, facilitated extracurricular pursuits such as debates, painting, singing, dancing and other creative endeavours.
“Rout also encouraged interactions between teachers and parents, recognising mothers as the first gurus in a child’s life,” said Trilochan Sahoo, a lawyer and former chairman of the school management committee.
Rout’s passion extended to environmental conservation. He initiated the “green the school” campaign, personally planting saplings and inspiring others to follow suit. He also cultivated a kitchen garden behind the school.
“Vegetables from the kitchen garden are still used for preparing the students’ mid-day meal,” said Suchitra Bhuyan, the present headmaster-in-charge. “Under his guidance, student attendance has shot up to around 98 percent, from the earlier about 50 percent,” she added.
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Rout also wrote educational books, including Asa Neba Bigyana Ra Maja (Let’s Enjoy Science) and Asa Chinhiba, Janiba (Let’s Us Find, Let’s Know), earning appreciation for his literary contributions.
“He also helped in skill development programmes for teachers organised by us,” Jharsuguda District Education Officer Niranjan Behera told Village Square.
For the students, “Subhash Sir” remains a role model and a favourite teacher.
“Whenever I am asked to write an essay on ‘My Favourite Person’ or ‘My Favourite Teacher’, I write about him,” said Subnhalaxmi Patra, a class 10 student of BGHS.
The lead image at the top shows Subhash Chandra Rout during a skill development programme organised by Jagatsinghpur education department. (Photo arranged by Niroj Ranjan Misra)
Niroj Ranjan Misra is a freelance writer based in Cuttack, Odisha.
