The teacher who refused to retire: Assam educator continues teaching two years after retirement

For most teachers, retirement marks the end of a long journey in the classroom. But for Muruli Bora, it was only a change in status.

As the country celebrates Teachers’ Day on Friday, commemorating the birth anniversary of renowned philosopher and educationist Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Bora’s story from Assam’s Kaliabor stands out as a reminder that a teacher’s relationship with students does not necessarily end with retirement.

Bora, who formally retired in 2024, continues to teach students regularly, nearly two years after stepping away from his official duties.

Every day, he travels around 25 kilometres from Kaliabor to a school in the Karbi Pahar area to take classes.

His decision to continue teaching came after no new teacher was appointed to fill the vacancy created following his retirement from the provincialised school. Concerned about the students and their academic future, Bora chose to return to the classroom instead of simply walking away from the profession.

Bora began his teaching career in 1989 and spent more than three decades in the classroom before formally retiring in 2024.

But retirement did not diminish his attachment to teaching.

Even today, he continues to devote his time to students, believing that remaining associated with the profession is a privilege.

For Bora, teaching is not merely a job but a responsibility towards the students who depend on their teachers for education, guidance and encouragement.

A resident of Datkota village in Kaliabor, Bora has also remained involved in the lives of his former students. He continues to play an active role in influencing and shaping the mindset of both his present and former students.

His daily journey of nearly 25 kilometres is a reflection of that commitment.

The image of a teacher as a candle that burns itself to illuminate the lives of others has often been used to describe the profession. Bora’s decision to continue teaching long after his official service ended gives that metaphor a human face.

On Teachers’ Day, when students across the country express gratitude to their teachers, Bora’s story offers another perspective on the profession — that for some educators, teaching is not something that ends with a retirement order.

For Bora, the classroom continues to be a place where he believes he belongs.