1) The document summarizes the author's journey visiting the homes of students who live in remote Makwanpur district. They hope to understand the challenges students face in regularly attending school. 2) When visiting Arjun's home, they find it empty but learn he must work herding goats and doing farm work, making it difficult to attend regularly. 3) Students like Chetual also must work in fields clearing stones, and their crops are often destroyed during monsoons, presenting more challenges to school attendance. 4) The journey gave the author insight into their students' lives, culture, struggles and perseverance in remote areas with lack of basic amenities like electricity and healthcare.

1. PATHELESS JOURNEY
HOME VISIT AT MAKWANPUR
AUGUST 30,2014
CURIOUS MIND
When I came to Simle for the first time during my diagnostic
test, I noticed the children playing Catch and Escape game in the top
of the tree. Afterwards when I came back as a Fellow for 2 years I
witnessed children hanging out most of the time after school around
the same tree to play the same game. At the back of my head an
envy person was getting a growth which also wanted to climb the
tree not because I like to play but rather to get a view from the high
point of the tree to which I can climb up to.
One day I was asking my co-fellow whether it is good thing to climb
with students and play with them in tree but he gave me an
explanation which I respect but was not really convinced. At the
same it gave me a realization that being teacher is a responsible
duty. So, I didn’t climb that day. Later, after someday I slipped down
from other tree when I was about to climb with my slippers. This
time I was with my both co-fellows and they laugh. Of course
everyone would have laughed if they were there that time.
The moment for me was not about failing one time and stop
doing rather it gave me an opportunity to try second time with
lesion! Actually I was successful next time in absence of my friends.
When I was gazing through the sky and sitting on the branches I
noticed a mountain which shapes like a W and it was named as a W-

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dada. Later, when inquired about with local people they said it’s a
very tiring journey to reach there. And, it lies in Makwanpur district!
(In the picture the W-dada can be seen from this tree. W-dada lies
somewhere around.)
REASON TO GO
On my attendance file I noticed that Arjun Thing is a regular
absent student who has to come from Makwanpur; his home lies in
the midst of the journey to W-Mountain. So, I decided to visit his
home to know about the cause.

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On the day of Rishi Panchami, I finally set my journey to
Makwanpur with my three students Miraj Jimba from Class 9, Suman
Blon from Class 5 and Sujan Blon from class 6.
(In the picture, the bridge is above the Yashpa River; which gets
mixed with Bagmati River after flowing through some meters.)

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(This bridge separates the Makwanpur and Lalitpur District.)

5. 5
(The trunk of the tree in the picture separates the way to W-dada
and to Arjun Thing’s house. And, from this place a 25 minutes’ walk
will lead towards Arjun’s Home in forward direction.)
Arjun skipped the school for one year to become a conductor
of a Micro Bus on the way to Godawari and later when his one of the
relative brother convinced him to continue his school education he
again continued in Class 9 with a hope to pass the S.L.C. He is the
only child of his parents. When I first met him he had mentioned
that he had many responsibilities with him. Sometime he wished, to
have a younger or elder brother with him only to share his
responsibilities. He has to walk for 3 hours to attend the school. My
objective was to meet with his parents and talk and share about his
academic achievement.

6. 6
(This is the home of Anjali Syangthan who is also in Grade 9.)
Anjali is the eldest among all of the students in that class. She is
extremely shy in nature. The red bag that Suman was carrying
belongs to her as she was also with us in company but walked very
fast due to my presence. She has the least attendance since the
beginning of the session. She was sick for months due to her eye
problem.
Later, I found that there was a health post which was camped by
Army Militaries and now it was moved from there. They had to walk
for 1 hour to reach the post before. Now, they have to either walk
for 1 day to reach Hetauda even if the buses starts after monsoon

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session (In bus, it’s takes 4 to 5 hours to be there) or they had to
come to Patan for the health services.
In Paplang (a name of the place), there is no electricity. Those who
can afford the Solar Light have an access to use electricity other
can’t. It was so awful to realize that Nepal is blessed with so much
water resources and still people are deprived of electricity. Where is
the future of Nepal heading towards?
When I reached Arjun house it was locked. After inspecting local
people told me that he had taken his goats to graze in nearby hills.
And, his parents had gone to his Maternal home to give a light to
Arjun’s grandmother who passed away few years back. (On Rishi
Panchami, Tamang people use the butter lamps to light a fire on
them in remembering their late relatives especially mother and
father.) Arjun was all responsible to look after the cattle’s. So, we
decided to shelter our self in Sujan home.
(This is the home of Sujan and also Miraj maternal house.)

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During school days Sujan lives in Miraj home and often come home
only in long holidays. He was so much excited to go home when I
ask him to join in my journey. Sujan’s mom died while giving birth to
his younger brother. And, he is so sensitive kid to deal with. He
catches relatively quicker but he is afraid to speak with teachers. I
had to play with him lot in order to build a relationship to the point
where he was comfortable to accept my proposal. He is now a very
good Mathematical story writer especially in Algebra portion.
(Miraj showing his square root watch)
Miraj dream is to be an engineer. He has a very good handwriting
but is still struggling with basic Mathematical operations. But, I
assure that nobody can be as creative as he is in Simle. He makes lot
of bamboo objects and some crazy two-wheeler car with no engine.
He is good at carving the woods into some significant objects.

9. 9
(The other part of the mountain lies in Lalitpur disctrict and the
photograph was taken in Paplang which lies in Makwanpur district.)
Next morning, I woke up early to meet Arjun before he leaves with
his goats. I reached there and he was in his house. I was interacting
with him and asked him a question, “Which is more important for
you- Attending school or working in field?” He replied, “I know
education is the most important but I can’t go school with hungry
stomach. And, I have to work in field to live! So, living is more
important.” With his response I was numb and speechless in my
heart but I requested him to be regular.

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(With my student Chetual Blon. On right the field belong to Chetual’s
family.)
After, talking for few hours with Arjun I decided to return back to
Simle. Down from the field, Chetual called me. And, I went there. He
was digging his field. The land was full of stones (big and small) and
his family was clearing those stones. After inquiring, I found that
those stones were brought up by the river during monsoon season.
And, the rise of water level washed away all the crops.
Chetual is the elder son of his family. He alike with others has the
least attendance. Most of the time he is busy working in fields.
Chetual family requested me to stay at their home that day and I
chose to accept.

11. 11
(Chetual preparing the food.)

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On the way back to Simle, I taught them some wisdom- Hear no evil,
see no evil and speak no evil.

13. 13
(This is the football ground where most of the time students from
our school come to play football match during holiday time. It takes
two hours to reach Simle after walking from this place.)

14. 14
(We had a break for snacks in Raksh Devi Mandir after playing
football in scorching sun.)

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Almost every student in Simle gets excited and happy when they get
a view of a river. And, how will they will be different. They pampered
me because they wanted to swim there for half an hour. This picture
framed their reaction when I allowed them to swim.
Once I asked them to wish anything they would like to own in their
life time. And, the whole classroom was resonated by WATER.
There are two schools in Paplang-one which is up to class 3 and
second up to Class 5. After Class five they have two option either to
go Majitar (confused with name) or come to Pyutar. In Pyutar there
are two schools Shree Kalidevi and Shree Chandeswori (our school).
When I asked them,” why they choose our school? “In the response
they said that they have relatives in Simle. Culturally, most of the
boys from Simle were/are married with the girls from Paplang.
This tour allowed me to learn more about my student’s culture, their
unheard stories of perseverance, their way of life, their struggle, and
their happiness. It broadens my horizon about life and its meaning.