Karnataka Headmaster Digs into Personal Savings to Gift Students Their First Flight

New Delhi, December 31, 2025: In a heartwarming display of dedication that goes far beyond the classroom, a government school headmaster in Karnataka has captured the nation’s attention by using his own life savings to fulfill his students’ dreams of flying.

Mallikarjun Hiremath, the headmaster of a government primary school in the small village of Gokak taluk, Belagavi district, decided that financial constraints should not limit the horizons of his pupils. Recognizing that many of his students come from humble backgrounds where air travel is an unimaginable luxury, Hiremath took it upon himself to turn a lesson about the world into a real-life adventure.

From Textbooks to the Tarmac

The idea sparked during a classroom discussion about transportation and the vastness of the country. Noticing the awe in his students’ eyes when discussing airplanes, Hiremath realized that most of them had never even stepped foot inside an airport, let alone traveled in the clouds.

Rather than waiting for government grants or external sponsorships—which can often take years to materialize—Hiremath decided to act immediately. He withdrew approximately ₹75,000 to ₹1,00,000 from his personal savings to fund a round-trip journey for a group of high-achieving students.

The Journey of a Lifetime

The itinerary was carefully planned to be both educational and exhilarating:

• The Departure: The group traveled from their village to the Hubballi Airport.
• The Flight: The students boarded a flight to Bengaluru, many clutching their boarding passes with wide-eyed wonder.
• The Experience: For most, the sensation of takeoff and the view of the earth from thousands of feet above was a core memory in the making.
• The Return: After a brief educational tour in the state capital, the students returned home, not just with souvenirs, but with a renewed sense of possibility.

A Legacy of “Selfless Teaching”

When asked about his motivation, Hiremath’s response was humble. He emphasized that as a teacher, his responsibility isn’t just to complete a syllabus, but to inspire “big dreams” in his students.

“I wanted them to know that the world is open to them,” Hiremath stated. “If seeing the world from above gives them the confidence to study harder and aim higher, then every rupee spent is an investment in our future.”

The gesture has resonated deeply across social media, with many calling Hiremath a “true educator” and a “hero of the grassroots.” Local education officials have also lauded his initiative, noting that such acts of kindness significantly boost student enrollment and morale in rural government schools.

Why This Matters

In a landscape where rural education often faces logistical and financial hurdles, stories like Hiremath’s highlight the impact of individual agency. By bridging the gap between rural reality and modern experiences, he has provided these children with more than just a plane ride—he has provided them with the aspiration to soar.

The smiles captured in photos of the students standing in front of the aircraft serve as a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best lessons are taught outside the four walls of a classroom.