From teaching children about good-touch and bad touch, to using interactive techniques to instill in her students knowledge about Hindi matras, Khushboo Kumari is an unconventional teacher from rural India who has become a viral sensation. The ‘viral teacher from Bihar’ recounts her journey in her words.
I teach at a school in Katoria block of Banka district in Bihar. Teaching has always been my calling, a path I chose because I find immense joy in the company of children, and they, too, seem to feel at ease with me. It’s as if I can naturally tune into their mental state, a gift I consider given by god.
Some horrible crimes against young girls once occurred in my district, which made me realise the importance of educating children early on about the difference between good touch and bad touch. I understood that this simple yet crucial knowledge could help them stay away from people with harmful intentions.
One day at Kathaun Middle School, I decided to teach my students about this sensitive topic. I didn’t want to scare them but wanted them to understand the seriousness in a way they could relate to.
So, I created a role-play scenario where I would gently touch one student, and they would respond with, “No, ma’am, no…don’t do this. This is a bad touch”. But when I lifted another student, they would smile and say, “This is a good touch”.
The children were quick to grasp the concept, and their reactions were heartening. I didn’t think much of it when a video of this session was uploaded online, but then something unexpected happened. The video went viral, and suddenly, I became known as the “viral teacher from Bihar”. My video was seen by more than 1.5 million people, and while it brought recognition, it didn’t change my life in the way some might think.
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Recognition came from all quarters. By sharing my video on X (formerly Twitter), the education department of Rajasthan appointed 1,200 trainers to teach this information to children every Saturday.
Another video went viral and has been seen by millions on social media platforms, where I created a dance and song routine to help students remember the Hindi matras.
More people know my name now, but my daily routine remains the same — busy from morning till night, teaching for six to seven hours a day, preparing lesson plans, and managing my household.
My passion for teaching isn’t new. I completed my education at home and earned an honours degree in Hindi, says the viral teacher from Bihar. Since starting my career in 2013, I’ve always engaged with children in an interactive and affectionate way.
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During the Covid-19 pandemic, my school’s headmaster, Tulsi Sir, suggested I share my teaching methods on social media. Initially, I was hesitant, but the positive feedback from children, parents, and others encouraged me. That’s when I realised my methods were unique.
Despite some criticism, my resolve remained firm. I continued to create and share content with the hope of benefiting as many children as possible.
I believe that much of the criticism comes from a lack of awareness about activity-based learning. Many parents still see rote memorisation as superior.
For instance, my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter doesn’t remember the alphabet in sequence, but she knows several Hindi and English poems and patriotic songs.
Many people think that if a child can recite the alphabet, count, or memorise a few poems without activities, they’re considered intelligent, but I don’t think so. Activity-based learning not only helps children grasp concepts faster but also ensures they retain the information longer, says the viral teacher from Bihar.
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None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my family. My husband, Manish Kumar Anand, who is also a teacher at a nearby school, has been my rock.
He encourages my work and helps share my content on social media. Though living in the Dumka district of Jharkhand, my in-laws praise my efforts, and my daughter even helps record my videos.
My work has caught the attention of many, from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the legendary lyricist Gulzar Sahab. However, the most rewarding part is knowing that my efforts have touched the lives of countless children.
Once, I went to the district headquarters for a Teacher’s Day event where students from various schools were present. I became friends with many of them, particularly the girls.
Some of the students even took my phone number. A couple of days later, an intermediate student called me, expressing how stressed she felt because her English was weak. She mentioned how this made her feel inferior to her classmates and that she was considering quitting her studies.
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I spent time talking to her, sharing my experiences, and assured her that she could reach out to me whenever she felt stressed. A few days later, she called back to say, “Thank you, ma’am. I’m feeling better now and am focusing on myself. I will work on improving my English and other subjects but without the stress.”
I believe that as teachers, we must go beyond just imparting bookish knowledge. We should also focus on boosting students’ morale and providing emotional support. In today’s fast-paced world, students have seven to eight periods of academic lessons daily, but there’s no dedicated time for moral education, motivation, or stress relief, which is increasingly necessary, says the viral teacher from Bihar.
At the end of the day, I am a simple teacher; the same Khushboo Kumari who finds joy in the laughter of children and sees teaching not just as a profession but as a way of life.
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All photos courtesy Khushboo Kumari.
Unnati Sharma is a journalist, writer, and translator. She has worked with ThePrint as a Senior Correspondent specialising in politics, in-depth features, and art and culture stories.
