Haryana teacher brings ‘light’ to flood-hit on Teacher’s Day

On Teacher’s Day, September 5—which also marked his birthday—a teacher from Charkhi Dadri in Haryana was busy bringing light, quite literally, to rain-affected villages in Sultanpur Lodhi.

On the evening of September 1, 36-year-old Sandeep Kumar, a young teacher from a coaching centre in Badhra village, boarded a bus to Punjab with a singular mission: to help those impacted by recent inundations.

With his own savings and donations from the 200 students at his Tagore Coaching Centre, where he prepares youth for Haryana entrance tests such as CET and police recruitment, Sandeep spent days in Baupur, distributing solar-powered equipment to affected families. His visit is a moving example of how the devastation in Punjab has resonated with people across the country—even in its remotest corners.

Unlike many others who have arrived at Baupur bandh with truckloads of rations, Sandeep took a different approach. He first conducted on-ground research to identify what the villagers truly needed.

He distributed solar lights, solar torches and solar panels to households across various affected villages in Sultanpur Lodhi. Sandeep said, “I saw a moving report on Punjab and the next day, I was on a bus—just on pure instinct. Many relatives didn’t know, lest they ask me to send money instead of going. Even my students didn’t know. I just told them to keep studying with discipline while I was away. On the way, I sent them requests to contribute for Punjab’s support. I just wanted them to be empathetic and involved.”

Even small contributions—Rs 5 or Rs 10—came pouring in from his students, he said. Travelling through the night, he arrived on September 2 and spent the entire first day surveying the situation and speaking to locals.

“At first, I thought I had come in vain,” he said. “There were already stockpiles of rations and fodder at the bandh. Langars were being held for everyone. But I wasn’t going to take back my students’ money unused.” Sandeep then met Sarpanch Paramjit, who took him deeper into the villages. “At most homes, people were struggling due to frequent power cuts. Some worried they wouldn’t even be able to tell if water levels started rising again in the dark,” he added.

Over two days, he distributed solar lighting in villages including Baupur Jadid and Baupur Kadim. “In Haryana, villages are closely packed with thousands of homes across acres,” he said. “But here, across 10–20 acres, you’d find only two homes. Most wiring was damaged, poles had fallen and walls were damp or crumbling. I had brought a torch for the sarpanch, but ended up giving it to a girl in Class 12. Kids are enjoying the lights, but older students are worried about how their education—especially board exams—will be affected.”

Though he is heading back to Haryana today, Sandeep is determined to return in about 10 days. “People will need diesel once the water recedes further. I’ll be back soon,” he said with resolve.