Tarun Indora takes on teaching responsibilities alongside his gardening duties, helping 36 Class 11 and 12 students continue their Chemistry studies
VYASPUR | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
In the quiet hours of the morning, Tarun Indora can be seen moving around the school campus with a water pipe in his hands, tending to plants and ensuring that the greenery is properly maintained. But within a short while, his role changes. The same hands that water plants begin writing complex Chemistry formulae on the blackboard, while students of Classes 11 and 12 listen carefully and work through difficult concepts.
Working as a gardener at Government Senior Secondary School, Vyaspur, Tarun has taken on an additional responsibility of teaching Chemistry to 36 students, helping them continue their studies at a time when the school is facing a shortage of subject teachers.
The situation emerged after the Science stream was introduced at the school and a Chemistry lecturer was appointed. After some time, however, the lecturer was sent on deputation to a school in Panchkula. With the teacher no longer available at Vyaspur, students were left facing uncertainty over one of their important subjects. The problem was particularly serious for Class 12 students, who were approaching their board examinations and needed regular classroom teaching and revision.
In July 2026, school principal Meena Kumari reviewed the educational qualifications and subject-related abilities of the available staff to find a practical way of addressing the academic gap. During the process, Tarun’s academic background and previous teaching experience came to light.
Considering his subject knowledge and longstanding interest in teaching, the school administration decided to give him an opportunity to teach Chemistry to the students. What began as an effort to provide temporary academic support gradually developed into a regular contribution to the students’ classroom learning.
Tarun’s educational qualifications have also supported his role in the classroom. He has qualified the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test twice. He also holds an MA, B.Ed, Central Teacher Eligibility Test and Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test TGT qualifications.
Teaching, therefore, is not entirely new to him. Tarun has been teaching children in his surroundings since completing Class 12. He also worked as a teacher for several years at RS Bal Mandir in Israna, gaining practical experience in handling students and explaining academic concepts.
His experience has helped him transition from the school campus garden to the Chemistry classroom. While his official responsibilities continue to include taking care of plants and maintaining the school’s green areas, he now spends part of his working day explaining Chemistry concepts to senior secondary students.
Since taking charge of the classes, Tarun has been working with the examination schedule in mind. By September, he had covered around 20 per cent of the syllabus. His target is to complete the entire course before the annual examinations and then devote sufficient time to revision so that students can consolidate what they have learned.
For Tarun, the additional teaching responsibility is not simply about filling a vacancy. He believes students should not suffer academically because a teacher is unavailable. His primary concern is to ensure that the absence of a regular Chemistry lecturer does not disrupt the academic progress of the students.
He also sees the classroom as an opportunity to contribute to the students’ long-term ambitions. According to him, helping young people move towards their dreams, particularly those aspiring to become Indian Police Service officers and college teachers, gives him a deep sense of satisfaction.
The students, too, have responded positively to his teaching approach. Class 12 student Kajal said Tarun makes difficult chapters easier to understand by explaining them through simple and relatable examples. His approach, she said, helps students grasp concepts that might otherwise appear complicated.
Another student, Sonia, said Tarun does not rush through topics simply to complete the syllabus. Instead, he spends time explaining a concept until students are able to understand it properly. This patient approach has helped students gain confidence in dealing with Chemistry topics.
Principal Meena Kumari said Tarun was initially given an opportunity to take classes on a trial basis after the Chemistry lecturer was sent on deputation. During the trial period, he explained various Chemistry topics effectively, and the feedback received from students was encouraging.
Following the positive response, Tarun began regularly supporting the students in their Chemistry studies. The school administration’s decision has allowed the students to continue receiving classroom instruction despite the absence of their regular lecturer.
Tarun’s story presents an unusual picture of a government school employee performing two very different responsibilities within the same campus. During one part of the day, he works to keep the school’s plants healthy and its surroundings green. During another, he stands before senior secondary students and works through the principles and formulae of Chemistry.
His experience also highlights how existing human resources within educational institutions can sometimes help bridge academic gaps when teachers are unavailable. While such additional arrangements cannot replace the appointment of regular subject teachers, Tarun’s contribution has provided immediate academic support to students who otherwise risked losing valuable classroom time.
For the 36 students studying Chemistry in Classes 11 and 12 at Government Senior Secondary School, Vyaspur, the presence of someone willing and qualified to step into the classroom has offered continuity at an important stage of their education.
Tarun continues to carry out his designated duties as a gardener, but his role at the school has now acquired another dimension. From nurturing plants with water to nurturing students through education, he is contributing to the school in two different ways — one through the greenery he maintains and the other through the lessons he delivers in the Chemistry classroom.
POD/DESK
