A vision beyond sight: Tikaram’s 100-km daily bike ride to teach

By Laxman Paudel,Bhairahawa, Nov. 4: Every morning, Tikaram Ghimire from Tilottama Municipality-5 in Rupandehi rises before dawn. Completely blind, he cannot see the path ahead when he steps out of his house, yet his sense of duty is unquestionable, to reach school and teach his students.

His home is in Tilottama, but his workplace lies nearly 100 kilometres away at Bagouli Secondary School in South Marchwar. Each day, he rides pillion on his colleague Gyansingh Rana’s motorbike, 50 kilometres to school and another 50 back home. For most, such a journey would seem impossible, but for Tikaram it is a routine defined by determination.

“This is not a compulsion but a commitment to my profession. I may be blind, but I can see my responsibilities. Teaching is my duty, and I would not turn away from hardship,” Tikaram said.

The journey, however, is not without pain. Dust, smoke, scorching heat, cold and rain, nothing deters him. “Sometimes even those with sight find this trip exhausting. For me, words cannot express the struggle,” he said.

His companion, Gyansingh Rana, admits the journey is demanding. “Riding 100 kilometres daily drains both body and mind,” he said. “But Tikaram’s dedication inspires me to keep going.”

Tikaram’s struggle also exposes the state’s indifference. Though policies promise accessible postings for teachers with disabilities, they rarely translate into action. Despite repeatedly applying for a transfer to a nearby school, his pleas have gone unheard.

“Teachers like Tikaram have proved their ability despite disabilities,” said his colleague, Yubaraj Kandel. “He passed the Teachers Service Commission exam and earned a permanent post, yet the state has failed to ensure him a dignified and convenient work environment,” Kandel said.

Tikaram has never let his blindness be an excuse. Before joining teaching, he worked for 12 years as a radio journalist, hosting programmes, reading news, and moderating discussions. Using assistive technology, he continues to study, prepare lessons and stay informed.

But his greatest challenge today is not his physical limitation, it is bureaucratic neglect. “I am a disabled teacher with a strong will to work. If the state placed me in a more convenient location, life would be easier, and I could teach even better,” Tikaram said.

Tikaram’s life sends a powerful message -- disability is not a weakness but a test of perspective. 

Though he cannot see the world, he continues to spread the light of knowledge and confidence.

Now, the responsibility lies with society and the state, to ensure teachers like Tikaram have safe, accessible, and respectful working conditions. For he is not just a blind teacher, he symbolises the dreams and potential of thousands of people with disabilities across the nation.