The education system in India is, and has been in a pretty bad condition. We often hear stories of students being misinformed by teachers who don't know any better themselves. Some schools don't even have teachers for certain subjects. But it's not only the underprivileged getting affected here. We seriously lack visionary teachers and mentors who truly care about students and don't teach just to finish the syllabus. In rural areas, millions of students suffer because of this. They might be studying, but are they really learning? In such times, these two stories in Uttar Pradesh really comes as a surprise.

Avanish Yadav joined as a primary school teacher in Gori Bazar, Devria, Uttar Pradesh in 2009. He was shocked to see the surprisingly small number of students present in the school. Upon investigation, he found that most of the residents of the village were daily-wage labourers and took their children to work along with them. Trying to make a change, he personally went to every house in the village and convinced the parents about the importance of schools and education. In 6 years, his teachings completely transformed the kids. Those who couldn't even spell their name right were talking about international matters. His bond with the villagers and his students was so strong that when the news of his transfer came in, the entire village, unable to control their emotions, came to see him off.

The other story comes in from Rampura, a small town in Shahbad, western U.P. Manish Kumar was the principal in a local primary school there. His hard work, efficiency and dedication not only made him a favourite in the village but also made the school one of the best in the entire district. Such was the impact of what he professed that his transfer made both, parents and students break down in tears.

A good teacher teaches us more than just what's on the syllabus. The lasting impression that these two left on the students will not be forgotten so easily.

The story was originally reported by Patrika. All images have been sourced from Patrika.