How a professor is making a difference with inclusive education in Assam

In the peaceful heartland of Assam, away from the noise and din of urban life and the pursuit of academic victory, a silent and forceful revolution is in progress.

It is being spearheaded by Professor Dilip Borah, a name perhaps not yet heard in the glory hallways but which rings in the lives he has changed.

A prominent member of the faculty of Gauhati University's Department of MIL and Literary Studies, Professor Borah is not only a scholar; he is a visionary, a mentor, and a philanthropist who has faith in the reclamation potential of education.

Inspired by an unwavering conviction that real education needs to reach out to both the soul and the mind, professor Borah in the year 2014 established the Uttaran Trust. Located in Bhitorkhola close to ancient Madan Kamdev temple, this benevolent effort evolved out of a responsibility to empower the erstwhile disadvantaged children from the tribal and marginalised communities. The Trust is a philosophy of holistic and inclusive education drawn from profound Indian spiritual traditions but informed by a modern vision.

At the core of Uttaran's vision is Aashroy, a home and educational institution for underprivileged children. Shelter and schooling are offered to young minds from all walks of life here, but what is more significant is that they are also imparted respect and dignity and the affection of a place where they are encouraged to make their dreams come true. "These children are not just given education; they are given a future," professor Borah said so genuinely.

It was on this basis that the Jyotibharati Jatiya Vidyapeeth came into existence, a school that does everything in its power to break with convention. From its syllabus to its teachers, everything about the institution is a testament to Professor Borah's belief that education must build mind and character too. "Students at Jyotibharati learn how to live purposefully and modestly," he asserts.

Expanding on his vision of education at higher levels, the Jyotibharati Institute of Education and Research supports multidisciplinary research and learning of issues of the day, underpinned by a commitment to human values. The International Centre for Peace, Conflict & Culture Studies is also located within the institute, where international scholars and peace activists converge for cultural resistance and intellectual exchange.

Professor Borah's unshakeable dedication to truth and humanity is once again seen in his future endeavor, Jyoti Sangha. Taking inspiration from "Jyoti: Jiwanar Baat" (Light the Way of Life), this spiritual movement endeavors to emancipate religion from ignorance and dogma and proposes a balanced integration of spirituality, reason, and ethical responsibility.

In a world so heavily ruled by ego and competition, Dilip Borah is an inspiration, a shining example of how education, when founded on compassion and service, can transform the world.