From 1980-85, all five children of the Baskaran family went to school in Lakshmipuram, Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu. They lived with their parents in a 250 square feet house with a roof made of coconut leaves. At school, the two boys only had to wear uniforms once a week – white shirts and pants. Their condition was so dire that the eldest boy, Nellayapan, wore his father’s clothes veshti Instead of pants.
Today Nelyapan B has become a teacher through hard work and attention. He holds the rank of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and is also the Deputy Director of School Education in the state.
Getting into college life was a busy schedule. He woke up at 4 am and helped his parents in their lunch/tea shop. After returning from college, he used to work in the shop till 11 pm.
Originally from a small village in southern India, he moved to the northeastern state in search of a better life for his family. And he succeeded in his goal. Today, he lives in a 2,000-square-foot, four-bedroom house. He also supported the education and marriage of his three younger siblings, which made life easier for his parents. He attributes all his achievements to his education.
“My father made sure we all got a good education. He tried hard to educate us and managed to pay all our fees by taking money loans and pawning jewellery. Three of my siblings have master’s degrees and one has completed his doctorate. All of us are in a good position because of my father’s insistence on educating us,” says Nellayapan. Uttam India.
From humble beginnings to Deputy Director
In 1990, Nellayapan had just completed his MSc in Physics. Her elder sister was getting married, for which her parents, who ran a tea/snack shop, had to borrow money from others.
“I remember the time before my sister’s marriage. People refused to lend. My parents managed the necessary money with great difficulty. The moneylender kept us hanging until the last moment. I felt very humiliated. That’s when I resolved to achieve something big in life, so my parents never have to face that situation again,” says the 55-year-old.
A college senior from Nelyapan working in Nagaland informed him about the opportunities there. And the 23-year-old Nagaland walked away with two thousand rupees in his pocket and big dreams in his eyes.
“It took me four days to reach Nagaland. My parents could not afford train tickets. My mother gave us her last piece of jewelery – her nose ring – for which we received Rs 2,000. I remember the bank manager’s expression when he saw the nose ring, knowing we had no other choice. I felt helpless,” he said, adding that the amount had helped him with food and lodging for a few days.
In 1991, he started his career as a private school teacher in Nagaland with a salary of Rs 1,000 per month. He says that as he sent some money home, this amount is not enough to cover the expenses. “I had to pay Rs 700 per month for electricity and rent. How to live on 300 rupees? he adds.
“I started taking tuition for school students to supplement my income. I used to tutor from 6 am to 10 pm, then go to school till 4 pm and back to tutor till 6 pm. This is how I managed the first 6 years in private service,’ says the teacher.
This was also the time when Nagaland was facing the problem of insurgency. But the teacher did not let that hinder his progress.
In 1996, Nellayapan got a job as a postgraduate teacher in physics at a government high school in Dimapur. In 1999, he got married and remembers how they put an asbestos roof on their house. “The burden of responsibility is often a blessing. I had to step up,” he shared.
Later, he became the principal of the school in 2012 and continued to work there till 2017. Then, in 2018, he was appointed as Assistant Director in the Directorate of School Education in Nagaland, and in 2022, he was promoted. of the Deputy Director.
A trailblazer in education
When Covid hit the nation, Nagaland was one of the first states to embrace online education and was even recognized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Education (OECD).
In April 2020, Directorate of School Education introduced tele/online education program through which education was imparted through TV (Doordarshan, Kohima) and Radio (Akhil Bharatiya Radio, Kohima). In May 2020, they also offered educational content through a YouTube channel. The program was led by Principal Director of School Education C Shanwas and supported by Nelyapan.
Congratulations to the Governor’s Gold Medal and Governor’s Commendation Certificate recipients. #74th_IndependenceDay. pic.twitter.com/qdEbUZl7OP
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) August 15, 2020
“Many hilly areas of the state face network problems. So we plan to reach every student irrespective of the network. We were also the first state to conduct online exams for students from classes 5-12,” says Nelyapan, who received a Governor’s Certificate of Appreciation for his efforts.
Working with IAS officers like Shanwas was also a big inspiration for Nelyapan. “I have had the privilege of working with many IAS officers. They are an inspiration to me and I want to work like them,” adds the physics teacher.
In recognition of his work and efforts to improve education in the state, Nelyapan was made OSD of Chief Minister, Nagaland in April 2023.
He says that the road to reach here was not easy for him. He has been living away from his family for more than three decades. He gives a big reason for his success to his wife. “My wife is my rock. She supported me from the day we got married. She even helped me get my younger sister married. Today, my wife is a successful executive in the private sector,” adds Nelyapan.
In 2006, his wife and children moved to Trivandrum due to his wife’s job. He proudly said that his son is now a doctor and his daughter is studying in class 11.
Reminiscing about the past, he adds, ‘After coming here, I used to focus only on work as I had many responsibilities. I had to make sure that my siblings studied well and that my parents didn’t have to borrow money. Poverty and responsibility led me to the right path,’ he adds.
Nellayapan has a message for all youngsters: “There is no substitute for hard work. You may get the reward late, but keep at it. Hurry up for a better tomorrow with attention. You will be rewarded for your efforts. Just work hard and don’t let your mind get confused.
Back in the day, many people helped his father with loans. Although his parents do not need his help now, he has strong faith in this government official Karma. Today, he supports six students in their education. “God has blessed me; I have to help those in need,” he said.
Edited by Pranita Bhat