The idea and the efforts for uniting teachers to effectively represent their grievances and just demands to their authorities were seriously initiated during the struggle for independence by the teacher leaders of that time. Soon after achieving independence the unity among teachers was seen through the formation of teachers’ organizations in various states of India.
Even after enjoying seven years of independence, there was no improvement in the status and the conditions of primary school teachers of Independent India. So the idea of setting up an organization of primary teachers at the national level came to the minds of leaders, and after serious deliberations and exchange of ideas of consultation among the leaders, a National level body of primary teachers came into existence. This is the All India Primary Teachers’ Federation (A.I.P.T.F.).
Foundation
It was founded on 7th January 1954 at Nagpur, the then capital of Madhya Pradesh. It was presided over by the late Acharya M.V. Donde and was inaugurated by Pt. Jawahar Lal Neharu, the first Prime Minister of India.
The first pillars of the AIPTF were Mr. M.V. Donde and Mr. Banjarkar as its President and Secretary General respectively. Presidents and Secretary Generals and their period of office since 1954 are as follows:
Presidents Secretary Generals
1 Mr. M.V. Donde (1954-1956) Mr. Banjarkar (1954-1956)
2 Mr. N.M. Muzumdar (1956-1959) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1956-1959)
3 Mr. M.V. Donde (1959-1961) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1959-1961)
4 Mr. Hira Lal Patwari (1961-1971) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1961-1971)
5 Mr. Arun M. Donde (1971-1975) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1971-1975)
6 Mr. Arun M. Donde (1975-1979) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1975-1979)
7 Mr. Randir Singh (1979-1984) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1979-1984)
8 Mr. Randir Singh (1984-1986) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1984-1986)
9 Mr. Arun M. Donde (1986-1988) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1986-1988)
10 Mr. K. Janardhan Rao (1988-1990) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1988-1990)
11 Mr. K. Janardhan Rao (1990-1993) Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1990-1993)
12 Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1993-1995) Mr. Ram Pal Singh (1993-1995)
13 Mr. Jagdish Mishra (1995-16/1/1997) Mr. Ram Pal Singh (1995-1997)
14 Mr. S. Eswaran (1997-1997)
15 Mr. Ram Pal Singh (1997-1999) Mr. S. Eswaran (1997- 1999)
16 Mr. Ram Pal Singh (1999-2000) Mr. S. Eswaran (1999- 2000)
17 Mr. Ram Pal Singh (2000-2002) Mr. S. Eswaran (2000- 2002)
18 Mr. Ram Pal Singh (2002-2006) Mr. S. Eswaran (2002- 2006)
19 Mr. Ram Pal Singh (2006-2009) Mr. S. Eswaran (2006- 2009)
20 Mr. Ram Pal Singh (2009- Onward) Mr. S. Eswaran (2009- 2014)
21 Mr. Ram Pal Singh (2009- Onward) Mr. Kamalakanta Tripathy (2014 Onward)
Before independence the status of primary teachers was very poor. Even though they had binned in freedom fight and become freedom fighters. After independence the status of primary teachers are not developed as they expected. Social and economic condition was not satisfied. Due to the thinking of some teacher leaders they decided to form a national level organization for primary teachers. The first national level primary teachers’ conference was held at Nagpur on 7th January 1954.
It was inaugurated by first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The founder president of AIPTF was Mr. M. V. Donde and the Secretary General was Mr. Banjakar, Mr. Jagdish Mishra from Bihar because the Secretary General of AIPTF in the year 1956. By his hard and honest dedication developed AIPTF to a strong and only one organization for primary teachers at national level. The AIPTF has now 24 state teacher associations affiliated to it. Now it has nearly 2.3 millions of primary teachers as members (of AIPTF). Mishraji was the leader of AIPTF for 41 years i.e. from 1956-1997. He is known as father of primary teachers. The AIPTF is now recognized is a very powerful organization in the world at large.