By Jacob Peenikaparambil

Indore, September 4, 2019: The Universal Solidarity Movement (USM) of Indore honored Sister Baskalin of Maharashtra as the best principal and Avaya Tripati of West Bengal as the best teacher on September 4.

The USM instituted the two awards in 2007 for fostering the memory of Sister Louise Josephine who had promoted value education for peace as an ambassador of USM.

After her retirement from formal teaching in schools, she crisscrossed the country with great passion, to animate young students and teachers, especially in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

The national level awards are an attempt by the movement to motivate principals and teachers to promote value education. The awards are generally given on September 5 when India observes the Teachers Day. The USM organizes a special meeting to honor an outstanding principal and a teacher from any part of the country. The award consists of a citation and certificate besides a cheque of 10,001 rupees.

Sister Baskalin, a member of the Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary congregation, is the principal of Sacred Heart English High School, Hingoli, Maharashtra. She was selected for the award because of her commitment for promoting peace. She has introduced a series of programs for students, teachers and parents to transform them as peace makers. She organizes peace rally of students and teachers on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, to disseminate the values of peace and non-violence preached by India’s father of the nation.

Tripati is a tacher of St. James School, Bianaguri, in West Bengal state. He accompanied students from Binaguri for three years continuously who came to the USM for Knit India and Enlightened Leadership training. He also organized peace club in the school and guided students in their various activities for promoting peace and harmony. “Avaya sir not only teaches but also inspires his students and I am one among the hundreds inspired by him,” said Ashkrita Gajmer, a twelfth grader in the school.

About 25 teachers from Indore city who participated in the function were also honored on the occasion. Sosamma Pothen and her husband late Dr. K P. Pothen were given life time achievement awards for their unique contribution for empowering the rural children with quality education.

Father Varghese Alengaden, USM founder director, in his address appreciated their commitment as genuine educationists.

Sosamma Pothen, the chief guest, in her address emphasized that the role of a teacher in the age information technology is not of an instructor but he/she has to become a mentor. She appreciated efforts made by USM for imparting value education to thousands of students from different parts of India.