He could have gone back. He had the offers, the options, the easy path home to Bihar. But Dr. MQ Khan chose Arunachal Pradesh — and Arunachal Pradesh never forgot it.
On July 31, the corridors of Dera Natung Government College (DNGC) in Itanagar felt a little quieter than usual. The man who had walked those halls for decades — as teacher, mentor, principal, and an adopted son of the land — superannuated from service. A farewell programme held at the DNGC Golden Jubilee Auditorium drew former students, colleagues, politicians, and well-wishers, all gathered to say goodbye to a man many of them simply call “Sir.”
A Journey That Started in 1989
Dr. Khan arrived in Arunachal Pradesh from Sitamarhi in Bihar back in 1989, a young man with a love for English literature and a career ahead of him. What followed was 37 years of unbroken dedication — teaching English across government colleges in the state, shaping minds, building futures. The numbers alone are staggering: 16 books, 10 research papers, 15 articles, and 40 poems, all produced alongside a full teaching career. He also contributed as a member of the drafting committee for the Arunachal Pradesh Education Act, 2010. That’s not a career. That’s a legacy.
The Man Behind the Classroom
What set Dr. Khan apart wasn’t just his academic output. For over two decades, he ran free coaching sessions for UPSC, APPSC, and other competitive examinations — result-oriented, consistent, and completely free. Countless students from the state cracked civil services and other competitive exams with his guidance. The government recognised his contribution with the Outstanding College Teacher’s Award, and IACIS, Hyderabad honoured him with the Teacher Research Award. But ask his students, and they’ll tell you no award captures what he really did.
Voices From the Crowd
The tributes poured in with genuine warmth. Padma Shri awardee YD Thongchi called him a true servant of the people of Arunachal, saying his contribution to education and literature would endure. Former minister Tater Kipa, himself a former student of Dr. Khan, recalled how the two worked closely together during DNGC’s early growth years. And former ANSU leader Techi Nera said it simply and powerfully — “He is not just a teacher but also a friend, guide, and mentor to many of us.”
“This Is My Home”
When Dr. Khan addressed the gathering, he didn’t speak like a man leaving. He spoke like a man staying. “I had opportunities to join service in Bihar and Delhi, but I fell deeply in love with Arunachal and its wonderful people,” he said. He spoke of watching his students rise into civil services, education, policing, media, and public service — and said that gave him more joy than any personal achievement ever could.
Retirement, for most, is an ending. For Dr. MQ Khan, who shaped a generation and made a faraway state his forever home, it feels more like a new chapter of the same beautiful story.
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