Fondly called as Nanda Sir, the Padma Shri awardee and centenarian Odisha teacher, Nanda Kishor Prusty, passed away yesterday. He was 104.
Admitted to the hospital last week when he collapsed after complaining of uneasiness, Prusty resided in Kantira village of Sukinda block. As he was affected by Covid he was taken to Jajpur district headquarters hospital and later moved to Tata Covid Hospital and then to Bhubaneswar’s Sum Hospital where he died.
The President, Ram Nath Kovind in his condolence message on Twitter stated: “Sad to learn about the demise of Shri Nanda Prusty. ‘Nanda sir’ spread joy of education with dedication. His gesture of blessing me when I conferred him with Padma Shri last month will remain etched in my memory. May his rich legacy endure! Condolences to his family & admirers.”
Sad to learn about the demise of Shri Nanda Prusty. ‘Nanda sir’ spread joy of education with dedication. His gesture of blessing me when I conferred him with Padma Shri last month will remain etched in my memory. May his rich legacy endure! Condolences to his family & admirers. pic.twitter.com/tJb48zDbTf
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 7, 2021
Expressing his grief, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Pained by the demise of Shri Nanda Prusty Ji. The much respected “Nanda Sir” will be remembered for generations due to his efforts to spread the joys of education in Odisha. He drew the nation’s attention and affection a few weeks ago at the Padma Awards ceremony. Om Shanti."
Pained by the demise of Shri Nanda Prusty Ji. The much respected “Nanda Sir” will be remembered for generations due to his efforts to spread the joys of education in Odisha. He drew the nation’s attention and affection a few weeks ago at the Padma Awards ceremony. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/VUpyPWP9FP
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2021
Last month, this veteran teacher was honoured with Padma Shri by the President for having made yeomen contribution to education and social service for more than 70 years.
He built in 1946 a free learning space for children and continued to teach at the age of 104 children at pre-school and elementary levels. In a documentary on his life, “Nandamastraanka Chatasali” by Abhaya Pati, he had said: “I have wonderful kids (students). I loved them and they loved me. They knew I expected them to do their very best and they did. I want to teach children till my last breath.”
What is really amazing is that Prusty himself had studied till Class VII due to financial constraints of his family but nhe never stopped providing free education to primary children free of cost at his ”Chatashali” – schools run by educated people to provide basic education to children.
