Bengal teacher shortlisted for top global prize

October 3, 2023 | 2 min read

‘Raster Master’ (Teacher of the Streets) Deep Narayan Nayak using the wall of a house at a village in Bengal to teach a child and her mother the letters of the English alphabet. For his innovative teaching methods that have transformed the lives of underprivileged children facing educational and social challenges, he has been nominated for the 2023 Global Teacher Prize. (Photo: GaonConnection.com)

Deep Narayan Nayak from Bengal has made it to the top 50 shortlist for the prestigious 2023 Global Teacher Prize, unveiled in London recently. The 50 were selected from over 7,000 nominations and applications from 130 countries.

There are two Indians in the list—Nayak, who is a teacher at Tilka Manjhi Adivasi Free Primary School in Jamuria in Paschim Bardhaman district, and Hari Krishna Patacharu, an English teacher at ZPHS Ilavaram at Bhattiprolu Mandal in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The award carries a prize money of 1 million US dollars. It is organised by Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO and in strategic partnership with UAE-based global philanthropic organisation Dubai Cares.

Describing Nayak’s achievements, the Global Teacher Prize said, “Amidst the pandemic, he turned mud walls into blackboards and roads into classrooms, bridging the digital divide for marginalised students. His focus on educating parents, eradicating superstitions, and addressing learning disabilities has empowered both children and communities.”

He has a non-profit organisation named Rastar Master, which in Bengali means ‘Teacher of the Streets’. Through this, he uses the walls of homes to create blackboards, using these “to educate children, their parents and their grandparents”, according to his LinkedIn profile. “As of 2023, this has helped educate more than 10,000 kids and more than 10,000 adults,” says his profile.

Further, says his profile, Rastar Master, now involves “more than 50 teachers and 100 helpers” imparting education at “more than 50 centres across 45 villages in 2 states”. In Bengal, the street classes are held in five districts—Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura and Hooghly.

The Prize described Patacharu’s achievements thus: “Through innovative cross-cultural sessions and a global network of educators, he transformed his classroom, empowering students to express themselves confidently in English. His efforts extended beyond language, providing educational opportunities and bridging gaps through international connections.”