Meet the West Bengal teacher who never took a day off in 28 years – and still teaches for free

Suparna Ghosh taught at a school in West Bengal for 28 and a half years without taking a single day off.

And even after retiring, she continues to teach history at the same school, though without pay.

Ghosh joined the profession as a schoolteacher on 2 May 1997 and retired on 31 October this year.

During her 28 and a half years of teaching at Rajyadharpur Netaji High Girls' School in Hooghly, West Bengal witnessed many changes and disruptions.

But nothing ever stopped Ghosh from teaching. Not even for a single day.

When asked how she did it, Ghosh said, "It was a challenge for me, but with God's grace, I was able to do it."

West Bengal saw three chief ministers during this period, but she never even took a sick leave.

Asked about it, she replied, "Even if I was ill, I did not let it matter. I went to school and taught, because that is everything to me. For school, I sacrificed all other comforts of life."

Suparna's childhood, schooling, and college years were all rooted in Durgapur, the town where she grew up. She went on to earn a master's degree in History from the University of Burdwan, followed by a BEd from Chandernagore Government College.

Once her academic journey was complete, she stepped into the world of teaching, beginning her career at the Army Public School in Giridih.

Life soon took a new turn when she married and moved to Amta in Howrah. It was during her pregnancy that an opportunity surfaced at a school in Srirampur. She didn't hesitate to take the leap, relocating once again.

Only a few days after giving birth to her daughter, Suparna returned to her calling. Each morning, she would leave her newborn in the care of a house help and head to the classroom — balancing motherhood and profession with quiet resilience.

Her daughter later studied at St Joseph's Convent in Chandernagore and, inspired by her mother, chose History for her higher studies as well. Today, she too is a teacher at a private English-medium school.

Suparna's husband, a chemical engineer by profession, spent his career in the private sector and, even after retirement, continues to work with a company based in Chennai.