Tripura Teacher Keeps Teaching 14 Years After Retirement

Agartala: Pratima Pal retired from government service in 2012. She never left the classroom. The veteran educator returned to PM Shri Baidyadighi Higher Secondary School the day after she retired, starting a fourteen-year streak of unpaid voluntary service.

Pal first began her career in 1980 at Shalgara Town Girls High School. She worked as a government teacher for decades before finishing her official tenure in 2012. She did not walk away. Instead, she chose to stay, teaching students every single day without taking a dime in salary.

Students view her as both an educator and a guardian. They say she makes complex subjects easy to understand. Pal maintains that her work is not just a profession. She says, "Teaching is not a job for me; it is my life’s pursuit."

Acting Headmaster Uttam Chakraborty recognizes the gravity of her commitment. He notes that such dedication is uncommon in modern education. He stated, "Teachers like Pratima Pal are rare."

Pal remains a constant figure at the school as of June 2026. She shows up without ceremony or expectations. She believes the success of her students is the only reward she needs.