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At 66, this retired teacher wants to crack UP TET exam again

Azadar Hussain, a former teacher, set an example of utmost dedication towards his profession by working continuously for 4,600 days without availing a single leave between November 26, 2000 and June 30, 2013

Published on: Oct 23, 2017, 15:13:50 IST
Hindustan Times, Allahabad | By , ALLAHABAD
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He successfully discharged his duties as a teacher spanning over a period of over four decades and now post retirement is busy teaching the lesser privileged children at his home.

At 66, a former teacher is all set to appear for UP TET examination to upgrade his knowledge. (Photo for representation)
At 66, a former teacher is all set to appear for UP TET examination to upgrade his knowledge. (Photo for representation)

Azadar Hussain, a former teacher at Yaadgare Hussaini Inter College, set an example of utmost dedication towards his profession by working continuously 4600 days without availing a single leave between November 26, 2000 and June 30, 2013, the day he retired. He availed his last casual leave during his service tenure on November 26, 2000.

Some of his students who have carved a niche in their fields include Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Samajwadi Party leader Mehboob Usmani, Cricketer Abid Murtaza, besides well acclaimed academician Dr Fazil Hashmi among others.

Now at 66 years, he is all set to appear in UP TET examination to upgrade his knowledge. Hussain has already started preparations for the exam. He wants to set example for other teachers to keep upgrading their knowledge which would help in grooming students in a better way.

Read More: UPTET answer key 2017 released, check it here

Talking to Hindustan Times, Hussain said “In my 41 years and 320-day service period, since I joined as a teacher at the young age of 21 years on June 21, 1973, I taught English and social science subjects to over 20,000 students.” Hussain’s zeal for teaching got a further push in November 2000 when one of his former students, who had just returned after appearing in a competitive examination, told him that answer to one of the question which was taught by him some time back helped him in cracking the paper.

“This prompted me to teach more and more students by attending school on every working day as I didn’t know which topic taught by me could help a student achieve success in an examination. I was critically injured twice in road accidents during my service period, but I did not avail leave and instead arrived in college with the help of my students and taught for all the scheduled eight periods,” he recalls.

As per him, continuous upgradation of knowledge is a must for teachers to help students achieve their best in academics.

“In 2010, state government published advertisement for Teachers Eligibility Test (TET). I appeared in the examination at the age of 59 years, much to the astonishment of the conducting agency and bagged 14th position in the state to become the oldest serving academician to have cleared the exam. I am a firm believer in the saying ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’. I will appear in UP TET exam next year to upgrade my knowledge once again,” he further said.

  • Kenneth John
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Kenneth John

    Kenneth John is a seasoned journalist with over three decades of reporting experience with different national dailies. As a correspondent with Hindustan Times, he is known for his impactful grassroots journalism, focusing on stories that amplify the voices of marginalised communities and bring issues of public concern into the spotlight. Over the years, he has reported extensively on education, women and child welfare, health, crime, infrastructure, environment, human rights, rural development, poverty, and public policy. His work has consistently highlighted the challenges faced by vulnerable sections of society, particularly in rural and underserved regions. Recognised for his investigative and human-interest reporting, his notable stories include exposing severe child malnutrition in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where he documented instances of children eating mud to cope with extreme hunger. These reports drew attention to serious gaps in welfare delivery and prompted discussions on policy intervention and accountability. A keen observer of social and cultural transformations, he has covered three Mahakumbhs and two Kumbh Melas at Prayagraj’s Sangam, reporting on their religious, social, cultural, and administrative dimensions. Among his most widely discussed exclusives was the story on Uttar Pradesh’s first all-women gang, “D39,” in Kaushambi, revealing how poverty, child marriage, and domestic abuse pushed several women toward crime. His journalism continues to combine investigative rigour with deep human sensitivity.Read More