On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Teacher Awards to 45 educators from across India in recognition of their remarkable contributions to teaching and learning. The awardees were celebrated for their commitment to student development, adoption of innovative teaching techniques, and efforts to improve learning outcomes in challenging conditions. Their work ranged from pioneering pedagogical practices to motivating first-generation learners, making a significant impact on shaping young minds nationwide.

Among the recipients was M Devananda Kumar, a Telugu faculty member at Dr. Lakireddy Hanimireddy Government Degree College, Mylavaram, Andhra Pradesh, honored for his creative teaching methods. His contributions included creating thallapatra granthas (palm-leaf manuscripts), producing educational content for LMS, and earning notable accolades for his academic work.

Another awardee, Proshanto Kr Saha, a Psychology faculty member at Rajiv Gandhi Central University, Arunachal Pradesh, was recognized for his specialization in forensic and neuropsychology. With over 14 years of service, he established a Neuropsychology Lab, developed training modules, spearheaded major research projects, and provided psychological support to victims of child abuse, showcasing his dedication to both academia and social welfare.

Prior to the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with the award-winning teachers. In a lighthearted moment, he noted that while teachers usually assign homework to students, he wished to give them an assignment — to champion campaigns for swadeshi products and strengthen the Make in India and Vocal for Local initiatives.