The village school master is an important person in a village. He plays many role. He is a teacher, post master, doctor and judge.
He is low paid. He is simple in dress and habits. He is very harsh and strict towards his students. He uses the rod freely. He believes in the maxim, ‘Spare the rod, spoil the child.’ The village urchins are terribly afraid of him. His very name strikes a terror in their hearts. They are afraid of his shadow. His word is law in the village.
He sits on a cot and teaches all the four or five classes committed to his charge, one by one. He takes pains with the students. He is devoted to his work. He is afraid of the education department. He prepares the classes day and night and the school premises are swept clean when an inspector is to visit the school. After the visit he is again free and rests on his oars.
He is also in-charge of the village sub-post office. He delivers the mail to the villagers and also writes letters and other documents for them. The villagers carry all their disputes and troubles to him. He acts as the judge. His decision is generally accepted. He is held in great esteem by the villagers. He gives them legal advice in their law-suits.
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He distributes quinine and other simple drugs among the villagers when some epidemic breaks out. The ailing villagers often consult him and he prescribes simple medicines for them. He is a sort of a quack.
The village gossip gathers round the school. The simple village- folk who are generally illiterate have a chat with him on the news of the day. He reads out the newspapers to the villagers. They think and believe that he is the only person who can give them up-to-date information about what is going on in other parts of the world.
The villagers have implicit faith in him. He is courteous and polite to all. The villagers supply him most of the needs. He is quite contented with his lot and wishes for nothing better. He is proud of his position in the village and sometimes gives himself airs.