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UTTAM TERON, a young man from Pamohi, nearly 20 km from the city of Guwahati, who dreamt of 100 per cent literacy for the children of his village much before the Right to Education Bill was even introduced in the Indian Parliament.

With a paltry amount of Rs. 800 which he gathered from his tuitions, Uttam Teron started his school, Parijat Academy in 2003 with just four children in his old cowshed with just a tin roof and bamboo wall, a pair of desk and bench and one blackboard. “Parijat” means “heavenly flower” in Assamese.

What started with just 4 children, Parijat Academy today has more than 500 students. The school adheres to normal school timings and have classes from Nursery to class 10 offering subjects like Assamese, Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and art work. Besides, programmes like computer learning, sewing lessons for girls, sports, dance and library are also offered. Milk is served to all nursery students twice a week besides serving Mid-Day meal for all the children.

Uttam’s exceptional work is being recognized far and wide. Visitors like NASA astronaut Edward Michael Fincke visited the academy to see its functioning apart from volunteers coming from different parts of India and overseas to teach the children in different activities like photography, agriculture, health, sports, art and crafts, adventure programme, computer, yoga etc.

Recognizing his efforts, Uttam Teron was awarded the CNN IBN Real Heroes Award for his relentless contribution to the society.
An unsung hero working in silence, Uttam Teron dreams of achieving a 100 per cent literate village by giving educational opportunity to every underprivileged child.