Uttarakhand teacher takes classroom beyond school walls

Rudraprayag: In a government school in Rudraprayag district, Ashwini Gaur’s classroom doesn’t end at the school gate. For the past decade, the teacher has taken lessons to mobile phones, village libraries, poetry gatherings and social media — reaching hundreds of children across Uttarakhand.

Born on December 1, 1987, in the hill village of Dankot in the Basukedar region, Gaur grew up as the only son among three sisters. He developed an early interest in poetry and writing while studying at Government Inter College, Kimana-Dankot, and later at Government Degree College, Agastyamuni, where he contributed to the college magazine and wrote on social and cultural issues for newspapers.

He began writing in Hindi, but found wider recognition after joining Kalash, a literary and cultural organisation in Rudraprayag. Performing at poetry gatherings in Garhwali brought invitations from All India Radio’s Pauri station and Doordarshan Uttarakhand.

When he joined the Uttarakhand Education Department in May 2016, Gaur decided to go beyond routine teaching. In 2015, before joining government service, he started collecting books to set up community libraries at a local school and at his home to make local language and literature more accessible.

His initiative Sanskarshala, or “school of values,” now connects with hundreds of children online free of cost. The sessions focus on writing, vocabulary and language while encouraging students to stay linked to ethical values, family traditions and cultural roots. He also uses YouTube and Facebook to teach science and promote Uttarakhand’s folk culture.

“Science and culture don’t have to be separate,” Gaur says. “When children see their language and stories in lessons, learning becomes relevant to mountain life.”His work has drawn attention beyond the state. Earlier this year, one of his students was mentioned in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme, where value-based education was highlighted.

For Gaur, teaching is also about inspiration. He recalls receiving a letter from a mass communication student who said Gaur’s articles encouraged him to start writing.

“For a young writer, learning that your words have encouraged someone else is an unforgettable feeling,” he said. “Writing could inform, inspire and show others a way forward.”

From poetry stages to WhatsApp groups, the teacher from Dankot is trying to ensure education in the hills stays rooted in culture while opening doors to science and new ideas.