Rekha, Sweety, Sister Angeli and Pankaj
1993 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
The Pragya Vihar school is a wonderful success. Ninety children attend it now with an additional intake of thirty this year (1993). We donated $1,860.00 which is nearly one third of the budget for the year ... congratulations! The standard of education is improving and a new teacher has been hired. Also, administration duties are now being taken care of by an Indian employee. This year a feeding program is being initiated for the children ... one meal per week and some vitamin tablets daily. The present school building with construction of mud brick and thatched roof will probably only last one more year. This form of construction, common to India, unfortunately has a limited life due to the impact of the monsoon season. Rebuilding the school will be an expensive hurdle for the future but for now everything is going extremely well.
Lives changed
The change in the lives of the children is so marked ... from poor, directionless children to smiling, happy and motivated beings. One can honestly say their lives have changed for the better. An observation made by a visitor was that the manner in which they greet Westerners has changed ... from a thrust of "Hallo ... 1 Rupee?" to simple warm communication of "Hallo ... what is your name?"
Retreatants Visit
A visit to the school was organised for participants of the yearly meditation retreat. The guests were able to see the very basic conditions by which the children learn and the children were delighted to display some new skills ... performance of a song and dance learnt at school and, for some, practice speaking a few English phrases. A moving experience was had by all! As a result, three new committee members were recruited from the Brisbane contingent and a volunteer work party of young men and women from different countries of the world devoted a couple of hours to the physical labour of digging trenches and moving soil around the school. There was much display of blistered hands thereafter.
1994 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
Visiting the school
After the yearly meditation retreat in Bodhgaya we were invited to visit the Pragya Vihar school.
We were told that the school building was about a five minute walk from town and seeing as the surrounding countryside is relatively flat, I expected to identify the building quite easily, once reaching the open paddyfields. This however was not to be the case and it soon became clear that my preconceived western ideas of what the building might look like were completely wrong. There was nothing that resembled a school other than a few mudbrick houses scattered around the fields, one of which had the children waiting patiently outside for our arrival.
As we approached the humble little building, we were greeted with a warm "Namaste" which is a traditional greeting of respect. Without too much delay the children began their song and dance show which they had apparently been rehearsing for months. They were dressed in their best clothes for the big occasion ... and barefoot. The attention soon drew twenty or so nearby village children who sat at a distance and watched on with envy as the school kids demonstrated some of the fruits of their education.
After the entertainment, we were offered chai and biscuits and we were free to inspect the building which by western standards would only have accommodated a quarter or these kids. Both staff and pupils at times showed a few nerves, as this was their major fund raiser for the year and would obviously have a significant bearing on the directions the school hoped to take.
It was a warming experience to see these children so enthused and truly appreciative of their humble facilities which would no doubt make a difference to theirs and others lives. We take a lot for granted in the West and to be able to see through this can be a real treasure in our daily activities and ultimately in life itself.
With much appreciation
Paul Cheketri
1995 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
I returned from Bodh Gaya earlier this month (March). I was delighted with developments there for Pragya Vihar School. I came away with the sense that the school and the committee is on a very solid footing. Firstly the two storey building will be complete by April, including electricity and fans. A short documentary about the school is being put together by a director from Sweden and will be used to help promote projects in the village.
The teachers are doing a wonderful job. The children are bright, creative and intelligent. We raised $3000 (US) on our two fund-raising days as well as witnessing a wonderful demonstration of arts and music from the school children. Some of the influential local figures of Bodh Gaya have become very supportive. The success of the school has meant that some middle class families wait to send their children to the school. We have formulated a questionnaire to ensure that the children do come from the very poorest families.
It is never far from our minds that Bodh Gaya is the poorest part of India. Poverty, violence, corruption and day to day struggle are a feature of daily life in the area. Co-operation, practical support and inter-religious understanding contribute to the welfare, security and harmony of the people of the region. The Chief of Police recently told me that there are many terrorists, dacoits, armed gangs, Maoist activists and even self proclaimed independent regions in and around Bodh Gaya. Yet local people do wish to work together. A key factor is the education of children and the upliftment of women.
Burmese Bhante, the Abbot of the Burmese Vihara, has done a marvellous job in overseeing the project. The committee has drawn up some clear guidelines for the children, who will number about 200. Next year we may invite a number of westerners to go to the surrounding villagers of Bodh Gaya to spend some days there, to listen and to share. It may be the first step to form a team of volunteers. There is a real spirit of inter-religious co-operation and understanding, which I believe to be a very significant statement in India, the land of such diversity of religious faiths.
Christopher Titmuss
Gaia House
Devon, England
March 1995
1996 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
During each year newsletters are sent to us from the Pragya Vihar School. One particularly inspired us and we wish to share excerpts as our main report. The youngest teacher Rashida Katun, who lives right opposite the school was asked to write about the school.
"Since April 1995 I am employed at P.V. School. Teaching here is like being transported back into the lap of my childhood. The innocence and open love of the children make me believe that here is real life. When I was asked to write about the school, I thought why non. Let's ask the children too. They all responded with such enthusiasm and began to write."
"My name is Kalpana KumarI, and I study here since 1990. I like the teachers and the way they teach. Later I want to be a teacher and open a school in my village, because all people there are illiterate. When the school is closed for holiday, I am not happy to stay at home. The school is there to get education, and from that comes one's own happiness."
Dayanand (class 6) wrote: "Before we were studying in a small hut, but now we are so fortunate to study in such a big building and learn so may good things. If we look back we see improvement in ourselves. We behave well with each other. In moral class we are taught how we can become good human beings."
He also included a poem writing about the school as "a storehouse of the sweet smell of love."
Abdul Wajid, the new science teacher wrote: "I am very touched by the love and discipline of the children. They all want to lay a foundation for a happy life."
In Sumitra Devi's view it is: "...Especially the cultural activities like drawing, singing, dancing & poetry which have contributed a lot to the mental development of the children."
Sister Sheela and Sister Cecily: "We are happy indeed to express our gratitude towards each one of you for your sincere support which you render the P.V. School. When we look at the children, we are thrilled to see their cheerfulness, self-confidence, creativity, eagerness to gain knowledge, cleanliness, responsibility & leadership qualities, and their zeal in learning about the various cultures of our country and the world at large."
For those of you who may not be aware, the Pragya Vihar School is of inter-religious character, where both on the teaching staff and on the committee, Catholic nuns, Buddhist monks, Hindus and Muslims and non-religious are working together.
The children attending also come from various secular traditions and mostly from the lower castes.
At the half-yearly exam time, which stretched over six days, 245 children turned up. The average attendance at the school is about 200 out of 260 children enrolled from nursery up to class six. Often it is illness or domestic problems that prevent children coming.
Pam Grayson
for BDA
LATEST BULLETIN FROM PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
275 children are enrolled for 7 classes and approximately 250-260 show up day after day. This year no students have fallen seriously ill despite a now contained up-river cholera outbreak which saw the death of locals. In January 1997 an 8th class is planned providing we have the space and, we hope, the funds to support more students. Building work resumed in June after the summer monsoon season. The upper classrooms were needed to spread sand for plastering so teaching was done on two shifts. As a result more children took up home study work (the dreaded homework has reached the East!) but it is a rewarding result to know that home support exists. This will help dreams to be realised.
Building work completion with all paint work inside and out, is due around now. Final cost figures are yet unknown but hopefully a sizeable donation from a Swiss benefactor group will greatly assist. School land was monsoon inundated, destroying most flowerbeds and some tree planting, so there is a plan to raise funds to repair a dead end canal behind the school. This would also allow crops raising on adjoining land.
Pragya Vihar School
1997 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
Dear Friends,
I have just returned from yet another Indian adventure ... the land of chai and curries ... where some of the best and worst examples of humanity exist. Fortunately, we are interested and associated with truly good expressions of life.
The Pragya Vihar school building ... a two storey really "pukha" looking place ... nearly overwhelmed me. I actually thought someone had built a hotel in front of our school! It's a great example of what a consistent effort and a little money can do in the third world. Furniture is sparse and the gardens are very young, but still there is this feeling of permanence and solidness which has enthused quite a few of the locals as well as visitors.
The children ... with the latest intake of over 400 .. look and behave with dignity and assurance that touches the heart. I felt grateful to be part of this project and to have made a small mark on our planet of something truly good. The teachers, caretakers and committee of the school are in great spirits. They are all committed to helping the children and this care ... above the job ... is what seems to give the school a positive feeling that is commented on by many. A few older children are now talented enough to consider secondary education and we are looking at ways to achieve that.
Yours
Eoin Liebchen-Meades
BDA committee member
THOUGHTS FROM THE STUDENTS
In February of this year (1997) a small library was opened for the children. It contains more than three hundred titles and new books and tapes are being added regularly. The library is very popular with the children who often complain that they can only take home one book at a time.
Sanjay, class 8, had this to say: "The library is on the second floor and in it are chairs and a table and cupboards. We can sit there and read in peace. Some children talk in the library which disturbs those who want to read. There are books about many different subjects. This is the only place where we can still our hunger for knowledge. Books are our friends, they light up the darkness of ignorance. The library is like a temple in which the goddess of learning lives, and as long as we stay there in silence, so long we live in the world of knowledge, inspiration and joy."
Arun, also in class 8, writes: "From reading books we can attain such knowledge so that we can improve our character. In the books of our library we don't find anything that leads us onto wrong ways. We choose to read about good things which we try to practice in our life. The same thing we read in the books we also hear from our teachers. Reading opens our heart and develops life."
Sangeeta, class 6, writes: "When I feel happy I am unable to explain how happy I am. It seems that in moments of small joys we can find a larger happiness. I also feel happy when I make effort and pass exam, or when something that was lost or had disappeared comes back again. When we have a guest at home we feel happy, and we celebrate our festivals with much joy. We cannot hold happiness but we can feel it and experience it. When we feel angry we say many angry words. Even when then someone speaks good we find something bad in it. I get angry with myself when I lose something. In anger we can beat and abuse someone. When I am angry my body begins to shake and tremble. In anger a person poisons or drowns himself or kills someone. So anger is very dangerous. I don't like anger at all."
Sommanti, class 8: "In our school were several friends who left school some months ago. In our class was a girl Chandra, she also left school. If again she came to school I would be so happy! But no-one can prevent such coming and going. There are several reasons. On our social level we see that the parents marry off the children at a very young age. At 12 or 13 they make their children leave the school and don't allow them, the girls, to go out anywhere special. So girls cannot follow their wish and continue studies; mostly this happens with girls only. Because in the village many people are illiterate, they often not only waste their own lives but also spoil the lives of others. So girls are forced to leave the school."
1998 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
Support for Further Education
We are very happy to report that 15 out of 16 children who left Prajna Vihar School have decided to go onto further education. The committee for the school wished to encourage the children to continue their education after they had finished their 8th school year.
But obviously the decision rested with the parents and children themselves. This means that 15 children will now attend other schools beyond 8th year.
The children did not need any encouragement. They spend a lot of time collecting information about the different schools, the standard of the schools, the number of children in each class and quality of teaching.
The school of choice for the boys is in the grounds of the nearby Magath University. This school offers only space to children from more privileged families. Eleven boys have enrolled in the school confidant that they can manage to find the monthly fee of $3.50 (US). Four girls from the Prajna Vihar School now study in a girls only higher education school nearby. As Harijians (lower caste), they are entitled to half-yearly national stipends to cover costs of attending the school.
The Prajna Vihar School paid for all the registration and schoolbooks and for the month until the summer holidays. The school has also set up regular extra tuition for them to help with a smooth transition.
The teachers at the Prajna Vihar School and committee are delighted with the determination of these teenagers to continue their process of learning. In future, it will make a significant difference to the economy of their villages. We must not forget that these children come from the poorest families of Bodhgaya.
The second major development at the Prajna Vihar School concerns the new addition of two new classrooms plus four new toilets. Now the biggest school in Bodhgaya, there are more than 360 children going daily to the school. One of the main problems for the school is during the monsoon season when the grounds around the school flood due to the torrential daily rainstorms.
It was decided to build a raised walkway to enable the children to reach school in the monsoon period. The walkway will include small bridge across the nearby flow of water.
We have 11 teachers and two assistant teachers to take care of the children. Early this year, 55 new children were admitted into the school into two new classes. The school continues its careful selection process to admit children from the poorest families. The teachers went in pairs to the nearby hamlets to see first hand the domestic situation and explain to parents the school's criteria for selection.
But the school needs more land. We have approached the owners of the neighbouring land but the asking prices are not realistic at all even though the school is the only potential buyer. We know that if we show too much interest in the land, the price will go up!
The school continues to run on the basis of free education for the poorest children on a comprehensive and practical education and expansion of the arts. The school is 100% reliant upon the kindness of people around the world. A huge thank-you from all of the children.
Thomas Jost
Pragna Vihar Committee Member
1999 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
On my last visit In January 1992, the Pragya Vihar School was a mere handful of students in a hired tent, in the corner of a fallow field on loan. The only furniture was a sack on the bare ground; the curriculum was ad hoc. In mid- December 1998, I arrived at an impressive three- storey building, thronged with well- dressed smiling children, who were eager to practise their limited English on me. The only outstretched hands belonged to those who wanted to hold mine. This was in sharp contrast to the outstretched hands of children around the temple complex. They had come to attend the final assembly for the year, the great occasion where the highest achievers received an award. Being received as guest of honour, I was given the task of giving out the prizes - a report card and a bar of soap - a delightfully humbling experience. The feeling of having contributed, in a small way, to such a successful endeavour, overshadowed all but a few of my personal achievements, as a teacher of 20 years, here in Australia.
THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
As of January this year the total number of students enrolled is 350 from nursery (age 5-7 years) to year 8. The current enrolment policy selects only one child from the poorest of families in which both parents (if two parents exist) are functionally illiterate. A teacher currently gives graduates from the last two years tuition, in their own self-study, in the evenings each day. There are currently 23 students in year 9 and 12 students in year 10. However, this is quite unsatisfactory as students do not get official qualifications for this study. There are 12 teachers and 2 non-teachers on staff. Teachers are paid about $60.00 per month with the three sisters on staff being 'paid' by their order.
THE CURRICULUM
Currently the subjects taught are Hindi, English, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Geography, Sanskrit, Moral Science (presumably some form of comparative religion), General Knowledge and Civics. The school is open from Monday to Saturday and runs from 8.55am - 5.00pm in the winter and 6.55am - 11.45am in the summer with a meal break of 45 minutes. There are a few extra curriculum activities, which include quizzes, singing, drawing, poetry and dance, etc. More formally, a music teacher is brought in who teaches tabla and harmonium to a group of about 23 students. 116 students from years 6 - 8 are involved with Toru Mkra (Friends of the Trees) and are engaged in planting trees, an environmental consciousness in the Bodhgaya region. Also, extra classes are organised in drawing, stitching and other handicrafts, for the poorest children. (How much poorer can they get?)
THE BUILDING
Over the last year, two new classrooms have been added to the top of the building and four toilet cubicles have been added behind the building. These were kept locked while I was there because 'the children had to be educated in how to use them'. Although the school is located a mere 10 minutes walk from the centre of Bodhgaya, it is surrounded by fields and presumably these were the only toilets to date. These building projects complete the possible development at the existing site.
A NEW SCHOOL
Because of the needs of the continuing students and the ever present pressure to increase the school's enrolment, a decision was made at the schools AGM to buy cheaper land on the other side of Bodhgaya, to start a new middle school to cater for years 7 - 10. This is the most significant development since we started raising money for the project. The projected costs are somewhat alarming - $68,000.00 for the building alone, but as someone at the AGM said, "we can do it the way we built this school - the Indian way. We can start again with a mud hut, if we have to." Suddenly, I am brought back, once again, to the realisation that when you have the right people, the right intention, the costs are not important. A way will be found, after all a school is primarily a community, not simply a pile of bricks - so different from our habitual way of thinking here. As I write this, the words of Paul Kelly keep arising - "From little things, big things grow".
Keith O'Neill
LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL (17/05/99)
Dear BDA Committee Members,
Greetings from the sisters, teachers and students of Bodhgaya. Hope these few lines may find you fine. Since many months have passed we have not given any news from here. Summer has begun and we have to give early our summer vacation. Children have finished their half-yearly examination. From 11th of May up to 20th of June we have our summer vacation. We are planning to re-open our school on 21st of June.
This year we have various activities in the school. This time our students have attended various competitions. They got a medal and certificate for each item. Among 87 schools and colleges, our students stood first in group dance, second in group song and light vocal too. It was very nice and a good experience for the children.
Secondly, we had our parents meeting. Around 275 parents participated in it. Students had beautiful cultural programs. Parents were given snacks and tea. They were given time to speak about the school, the activities, etc. They were very happy to see the progress of their children.
Ex students are continuing their study in many private and Government schools. Some of them are doing well. Some of them have left their studies. They are supporting their family; working in small shops and other ways. Some of them are trying their best to study in good schools, but it is not possible to put them due to some reasons. Especially our school is not registered. Yet they are finding their own way for their higher education.
Burmese Bhante has given fans for the school and two more new rooms also are now completed. For the students it is quite a relief in this terrific heat.
We are planning to have millennium celebrations in the month of December. Hope you are able to join with us. Now let me wind up here with lots of prayerful regards for your successful work. Thanking you for your great support.
Yours sincerely,
Sr. M. Anjali SRA.
2000 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
Last year's articles on the school as reported by our committee member Keith O'Neill who visited Bodhgaya were very expansive and full of the spirit of Bodhgaya and the school. This year our report is more basic and a little scant. Keith visited Bodhgaya again in November en route to the U.K. and other destinations, and has said that so far as news of the school goes not much has changed. It seems the growth that has taken place over the years has plateaued out and this could be expected as the growth since inception has been impressive. There are a few success stories such as the continued success of the cultural program resulting in the dance team winning a competition involving nearly 100 schools in the area. Education, including the cultural program and dance, is vital to the essence of the students and local community. Prior to the students' introduction to the school, the illiteracy and hard life of these very poor resulted in a lack of knowledge of their inherent culture and of the dance and music which we, who have a connection to India, regard as so very rich.
Enrolment last year was 350, and some 400 presently attend the school, with 354 students sitting the annual exams in December. Some failed these end of year exams, and consequently have not progressed to the next grade. This is a twofold conundrum. The failure is sad for the students who have to surmount immense hardships just to regularly attend school and bring some energy to their place of learning. Considering these hardships it would not be an easy decision to refuse progression to the next grade and risk demoralizing the student, but the school's 'integrity approach' could be more beneficial to long term growth and value setting of the students by reinforcing the need to reach the set standard. I'm sure we can all relate to the level of personal satisfaction we feel when we discipline ourselves and overcome a failure. To simply 'turn a blind eye' to the exam failures could lead to higher and more entrenched levels of failure for these students throughout life. The school is looking at the feasibility of building a high school, which would allow the more capable students to continue education to a higher standard. We will keep you informed of progress. Last year's expenditure for the running of the present school was around $16,000 and the budget for 2000 will be higher.
PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
I took the afternoon off one of the retreats to go to the AGM where all the news was aired. It was an amazingly low-key affair, which could be compared with a village pigeon fancier's society AGM here, in rural Essex. Not much to report on the school as things seem to be running very smoothly and without great incident.
The high point of the meeting was when chai & gulab jamuns came around. I think Thomas has sent you the AGM minutes to which there is little to add. The most surprising news to me was that any further expansion of the school, including land purchases, seems to have been put on hold until the trust has been formed which ensures the school's legitimacy. Apparently the Bandaris in Delhi are seeing to that and all being well it may be complete by July or August.
Keith O'Neill
2001 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
Much sadness surrounded news of Thomas Jost's death. His skills as the director and his friendship will be sorely missed. However, we have been very fortunate in that an old friend to Bodhgaya and the school, Katie Mitchell, has volunteered to do what she can to help us out. She is a frequent visitor to Bodhgaya and a lady of many talents. We are very grateful for any help that she is able to give.
The school is running smoothly and competently with an attendance of 350 children. Many thanks to the teachers and particularly the headmistress, Sister Anjali.
We continue to be very proud of the school and the quality of the students. It has now reached the second stage of development; the school is stable in its basic needs and now the emphasis is focused on continued improvement of facilities and the quality of teaching.
We have maintained our commitment of a 1/3 of the schools budget, the other 2/3 being raised in India and Europe. Next year there will be another raise as we have increased the teachers' salaries and the Australian dollar has fallen against the Indian rupee.
There are many areas that need attention and the acquisition of new land for a secondary school has not yet eventuated. Charitable status in India has also not as yet been achieved. In severe monsoons, the schoolyard floods so badly that the school must be closed for days at a time. The first two issues are close to being achieved; the last is difficult because of the lowness of the land. As all of you who read this and have been to India would know, things can seem to take a long time before progress is made.
Yet, in other areas things are changing very quickly. We managed to get a complete bank record in only two hours - we were all totally amazed! Yes, India is changing. Internet cafes all over, more regular, irregular power and an amazing array of middle class comforts. The downside to this is the gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing and the organic nature of Indian society seems to be breaking down.
I was more saddened by the poverty this time than ever before. Mother Theresa used to say the West was materially rich but spiritually poor, whereas the East was materially poor but spiritually rich. I'm afraid India may be heading into materially moderate to poor to spiritually poor.
Eoin Liebchen-Meades
In Memory of Thomas Jost
1950 - 2000
Director of Pragya Vihar School
Servant of the Dharma
Friend to all
This is the inscription on the memorial stone for Thomas that has been erected at the school.
Thomas died suddenly from illness late last year and will be sorely missed by all. He liaised with us, was a friend, counsellor, arbitrator and manager to so many over the years. Most notably was how his presence was deeply felt amongst the Indian people who knew him. Tears came to their eyes when they talked of him. Ram, the local chai whalla couldn't eat for over a day when he heard the news and numerous were the stories of how he would be missed.
He quietly ambled his way into the hearts and lives of so many, an unimposing gift to us all. There were two memorial services held at the school in January with many attending including two of Thomas's brothers.
From all at the BDA and many others may we share the blessing
from having known and worked with this man who lived such a virtuous
life.
2002 REPORT - PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL
News from the PV School: Enrolment Process, Students
By Anton Eastick
Last year before leaving for Bodhgaya, where I helped manage the annual Bodhgaya retreats, Victor asked me if it was possible to interview 3-4 children from the PV School (PVS) with the idea of doing an article for the BDA newsletter. Once in Bodhgaya, Sister Angeli, principal of the school was also enthusiastic about the idea and we quickly arranged a time and date. On the chosen day, the children I spoke with, Rakesh, Pankaj, Sweety and Rekha were all even more excited at the idea of being interviewed. As they were introduced by Sister Angeli they each jumped up from their chairs with a broad grin and quickly adopted me as Uncle!
The two boys, Rakesh and Pankaj, have the surname of Kumar while the two girls, Sweety and Rekha have the last name of Kumari which indicates which caste they come from. This is the same caste but the "i" in Kumari indicates that it is a girls name. Kumar(i) is apparently one of the lowest of the many castes in this area.
During the Prajna Vihar School (PVS) enrolment process during which Sister Angeli chooses who can come to the school from the many applicants, frequently all she needs to do is look at the name of the family to have a reasonably accurate picture of the financial status of the family. In some cases this is not true but generally it is a good indication.
Martin Aylward and I were at the school on the morning that the successful applicants for this year were announced and emotions were running very high as parents dealt with the news, either favourable or otherwise. It was a very touching experience as parents pleaded with Sister Angeli to reconsider her decision but some perspective was placed on the situation later as she related to us that a small proportion of the parents were indeed capable of paying for their children to attend another school.
When faced with this performance worthy of Oscar nomination, it reinforced in us what a difficult job Sister Angeli has with this enrolment process and how difficult it is for a westerner to really know what is happening.
Rakesh has been coming to the PVS since he was 4 yrs old and he is now 11. He has 1 brother and 2 sisters who go to Govt schools. When asked about what he likes most about the school he replied that science is good and the cultural program which they perform at the end of the retreats is also good, but mainly all his friends come here and he enjoy playing with them the most! It sounded quite familiar to my experience of school. Maths... English? Isn't that cutting into the playtime a bit too much? Rakesh's parents live in Gaya, some distance away and he stays with his Uncle in Bodhgaya so that he can attend the school. He is the eldest son and without the support of free education from the school he would be home with his parents helping to work the small block of land that they have.
Pankaj has a brother and a sister who come to the PVS school and one other sister who doesn't go to school yet. His favourite subject is English but mostly he said it is the teacher's kindness that makes him want to come to school everyday. This was a sentiment that was reflected most sincerely by all the children and very evident in their relationship with Sr Angeli.
Unfortunately Pankaj's father passed away after a fall while working at the Ladakh monastery in Bodhagya and now his mother has to support the family by sewing which I was assured she is very good at!
His mother approached Sister Angeli to allow the children to come to the school after his father's death and Sr Angeli readily agreed. Pankaj very much enjoys the discipline of regular classes and excels at his studies which he spends long hours on after school hours, unprompted. Sweety has been very aptly named and like Pankaj, enjoys the discipline (their word) of school the most, especially the homework! After picking myself up off the floor upon hearing this somewhat startling revelation, she assured me that this was indeed true and mathematics was the best of all.
Sweety was one of the announcers at the cultural program held for the retreatants this year and excelled in her role. Her parents sell shawls and blankets during the tourist season at a roadside stall near the main Bodhgaya Stupa which gives them enough money to feed her 3 brothers and 2 sisters for the year.
Her previous school, run by Ven. Anurudh a monk at the Thai Monastery, only went to grade 5. Going to the PVS enables her to extend her education further where otherwise it may have ended, depending on what opportunities came up at Govt. schools.
Rekha, 11 years old, has 2 brothers, no sisters and has been at the school for 7 years. She likes all the subjects at the school and all the teachers. So easily pleased! Her parents also sell shawls and blankets etc at a roadside stall in Bodhgaya and she goes there after school to help out. One of Rekha's brothers also goes to school at the PVS but one has moved to Ranchi, in Jarkhand just south of Bihar, to live with his Uncle who has adopted him. This brother has lived with his Uncle since he was 5 years old, he is now in high school, and doing this has allowed him to receive the education his parents wanted for him, but were unable to afford. Rekha's family moved to Bodhgaya so that they could attend the PVS.
2003 REPORT: DEVELOPMENTS AT THE PRAJNA VIHAR SCHOOL
Most of the committee of the Prajna Vihar school met together in Bodhgaya in February 2003 to share developments and concerns about the school.
We expressed our deep appreciation to friends around the world, especially in Brisbane, Australia, Switzerland, England and the USA for over the years, sustaining the annual support needed to maintain the school. It now costs roughly around £23 (A$55) per year to give a full year's education to a child. There are now around 500 children in the school aged from five to 16 years.
Our wonderful teachers continue to work hard to support the inner development of the children through study, meditation, culture and the arts. Yet it is never easy. We have only just been able to afford the purchase of mats for the children to sit on on the floor. Until now they have had their lessons on the cement floor and shared the text books. We are trying to do everything we can to nourish their education. The school is generally recognised as the best school in the heart of Bodhgaya for the quality of education of the children. But we feel we have a long way to go.
We have the opportunity to lease land just outside Bodhgaya to build another school. We estimate it will cost around $50,000 to build a new school. We want to go ahead but it is a major step and exploration for this project is underway. The current school would then become a vocational training centre to learn such skills as house-building, clothes-making, plumbing, gardening, weaving etc.
We hope that very soon the school will have access to the world, via e-mails and internet. One dharma student in the West kindly gave $800 for the school to buy a computer and go online. We hope that when this happens it will enable the school to link up with other schools in the West.
Our major concern is the lake of polluted water surrounding parts of the school. This happened from new hotels destroying the ancient irrigation scheme. We have made several appeals to the authorities to act. Other issues also arise. We were shocked at the electricity bill that the school had to pay. It looked like we might have been cheated. Then we checked the records. The last bill had been sent to the school in 1997. Our telephone bill suddenly leapt to about $40. The phone is hardly used. Someone had tapped into our line and used it. We then had to change the line.
Never forget that the school depends entirely on donations from ordinary people, who know that every cent goes directly to support the school and the desperately poor children who attend it. Please support the children.
2004 Report on the PV School: A Visit and Some Views
Jiva Masheder
My first visit to the Pragya Vihar School this year happened
to coincide with a staff meeting and so I was invited in with
a friend and we sat and waited, listening to the meeting in progress.
I was impressed with the clarity and leadership of the new principal,
Sister Yogita, the atmosphere of cheerful cooperation and the
dedication to the pupils. Later, on the street, I met some of
the students in their distinctive uniforms, all chirping “hello,hello
what is your name”. Even the smaller ones were able to talk
a little with me in English, now the national language of India
and the key to good jobs and working with tourists, a major source
of income in Bodhgaya. They all said how much they enjoyed going
to school – and they even looked like they meant it!
Sister Yogita, school principal in January
2004
I spoke to several of the Christian nuns who are on staff at the school as well as Sr Yogita, the new principal. All of them spoke about the joy it brings them to serve the children and I was especially struck by the teachers’ warmth of heart and love for the children. The job has its challenges though, ones that are hard to imagine in the West. There is a big drainage problem; of waste water from hotels which is not reaching the river. The school, which is built upon raised ground, is surrounded on all sides by stagnant water, a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. The water was at least 30cm deep while I was there in the dry season and the sisters told me that in the rainy season they have to hitch their saris up to their waists and wade through thigh-deep water to get to work! However it is also worth remembering how priceless education is in a country with a literacy rate of around 50%; in Gaya District this drops to single figures in some villages. It is easy for us to take education for granted; here the children at the PV school know how lucky and privileged they are. Everyone I talked to both within and outside the school agreed that it is the best school in the area.
I spoke to one former pupil, Umesh, who works in one of Bodhgaya’s most popular restaurants, Mohammed’s. His English was fairly good, and he has a steady job. I asked him what his peers who had not been to school were doing for money. He shrugged and said “field-work, carrying bricks”. These jobs are poorly paid, physically demanding and very unreliable sources of income.
It is good to remember that the pupils of the PV school are low-caste children in a country where caste determines everything. If a child is born knowing he or she is inferior it is a wonderful gift to be able to help them to feel self-respect. So, as well as better earning prospects, education has other benefits too. Talking with the teachers about this most of them agreed that present and former pupils of the school had noticeably better self-esteem and were generally more considerate to others.
The teachers expressed a wish for a little more equipment for the school, as well as a couple of extra class-rooms so that each class has a separate room. At present the lower classes have to share a room, which adds to the challenges for both teachers and pupils. Also on the wish-list were some desks so that the pupils were not hunched over when trying to write, and some more floor mats for the younger students to sit on; they only graduate to benches in later years! All these things are being prioritised. New desks have been ordered and slowly the facilities at the school are getting better.
The whole thing is heartening to see. There is room for growth and improvement but the school is also having a wonderful impact.
PRAJNA VIHAR SCHOOL
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE 2004 CALENDAR YEAR
by Sister Bindu Thomas, Principal
Here I give you a brief account of the School. The Prajna Vihar School was started by Mr.Rick Peterson in the year 1990, with the objective of educating the students of the less privileged sections of the society. The School was started in a small shed with 45 children. Today we are happy to tell you that with your generous contributions, we have a School building with 13 rooms, in which 500 students study. We do not limit our education to the bookish knowledge alone. But we give them value based education, through which they are helped to live effectively in this world of competition. When North Bihar faced the worst conditions of flood this year, we encouraged the students to contribute in kind and cash for the victims. Thus making them aware of the inter- dependency on each other and that we all belong to one world at large.
On every Saturday we organize competitions like singing, painting, dance, speech, quiz etc. to build up their hidden abilities and potentials. We help and encourage the students to participate in various competitions sponsored by various organizations, such as Rotary Club. This enables our students to interact with other students as well as to come out of their own shells and to have a wider perspective of life. The teachers are ever willing to render their service to the students whenever they are in need. I feel happy and proud to say that there is a cordial and affectionate relationship between teachers and students.
Celebrations such as Teacher's day, Children's day, Independence Day, Republic day etc. are celebrated with lots of joy and enthusiasm. These celebrations foster love and respect between the teachers and students as well as for the country. This year a Vietnamese Buddhist nun was generous enough to donate desks and benches for the students. We also had built two more rooms for the students. There is a great demand from students and parents for upgrading the school to Class X, as without this they have to go to Government school where there is no teaching at all, for their further studies. We hope this dream of our students will come true one day with your help and support.
We know that each of you works hard to raise funds for the maintenance, development and better functioning of the school. The School family is grateful to each of you for your generous help and support. May god bless your every efforts and under-takings. May He be a constant companion in your life's journey. Once again thanks to each one of you.
THE PRAJNA VIHAR SCHOOL IN 2004 AT A GLANCE
by Sister Bindu Thomas, Principal
Statement of purpose: To educate the less privileged sections of society, and to foster inter-religious understanding.
School Board of Directors: Venerable.U Nyanienda, Rick Peterson,
Christopher Titmuss,
Ranjit Bhandari, Prama Bhandari, Priye Ranjan Dwye, Sister .Bindu
Thomas (principal).
Number of children: 410 (boys-208, Girls-202)
Number of teachers: 12 (Male- 5, female -7)
Age of youngest student to oldest student: 4 to 15
Names of hamlets where children mostly live: Piparpatti, Mastipur,
Bhagalpur, Amuwa, Taridih
Typical work of parents: agriculture, rickshaw pulling, small
scale business
Subjects taught in the school: English, Hindi, Maths, Science,
Social studies, General knowledge., Moral science, Drawing, Hand
craft, Dance
Inter-religious appreciation: Prayer meetings on various religious
festivals
Colour of the school uniforms: Brown trousers and cream shirts
for boys, Brown Skirts and cream shirts for girls
Cost of the school uniform: 150.00 Rupees [approx A$4.60]
Total salaries for the year: 4,77,800.00 Rupees [approx A$14,532]
Two new rooms: 2,50,000.00 Rupees [approx A$7,603]
Other expenditure: 1,53,805.00 Rupees [approx A$4,678]
Total Expenses: 8,81,605.00 Rupees [approx A$26,813]
Plans and Future Vision for 2005 and beyond:
Practical needs and decisions: Service conditions and guidelines for the teachers are updated. Mr.P.R.Dwyer is invited as a member of the management committee, also to be the co-ordinator to inform overseas fund raisers of any developments in the school The name of the school remains Prajna Vihar School and not Pragya Vihar School. The boundary wall has to be raised and another room to be made for the students. More toilets have to be made for the students as well as the staff.
Purchases: A big table for the staff, few more desks and benches for the students, library books, two cupboards.
Future vision in terms of next big steps : Upgrade the school to High School, Purchase land for the school, Computer education for students, Technical school for students, Scholarship for Ex students
PV SCHOOL 2005 - INTERVIEWS
Jiva Masheder
I set out towards the Pragya Vihar School again this year, and as happened previously, was greeted by crowds of beaming kids in their red school uniform, many keen to try out their few words of English on me and make a bit of contact. Indian kids are so friendly. And when I forgot the way, one of them guided me right to the school to make sure I got there. The village is a maze of paths and shacks and goats.
This time at the school I had longer conversations with four students and these conversations were enabled by the new principal, Sister Bindu, who did the translating.
All the four students were in the later classes in the school, and all had ambitions for further study. Unfortunately the quality of further education available to them is very poor, but for the moment is was good to see them enjoying and appreciating their school time. I was struck by the difference in attitude between these kids and many in the West who are often either ambivalent about school or resent having to go.
One of the kids was Kumar from Mastipur, the nearest village. He is part of a typically large Indian family, with 3 sisters and 3 brothers. He's the baby of the family. Three of his siblings are married already. Among educated families in this area the marriage age tends to be around 17-18: young for us but quite late by the standards of many other Indian families. Sister Bindu assures me that it is the education that makes the difference here.
Kumar's father is the caretaker at a medical college, and he has worked there for 14 years. His salary is around A$200/month, which has to support him, Kumar, and three older brothers and their wives. Kumar's mother died 3 years ago, so they have to share the domestic responsibilities between themselves. When I asked if the A$200 per month that was enough for all these people, he just said that they had to manage as that was all there was. They have no animals or land to produce food, and have to buy everything from the market.
Kumar really seemed to appreciate the quality of the teaching at PV school compared to other schools. He plans to go to the Government High School to complete the 10 years of schooling, and he would like to come back one day and teach at the PV school. Actually a lot of students say this.
Next I met Priti Kumari, a young girl who walks a couple of kilometres, half and hour, to arrive at school at 8:30am. Before she leaves home she often needs to clean the whole house and make breakfast for the family – typically chapatti and potato curry. She often cooks on a rice-husk fire – something I had never heard of. Apparently the rice husks are cheaper than firewood in deforested Bihar, and available in the market. Sometimes she prepares the food and sometimes it's done by one of her older sisters. Priti Kumari is 12 and has she 7 sisters and no brothers. She is the middle child and when she cooks it is for all of them. One of the big problems for her family will be the financial burden of paying the dowry for 7 girls, with no dowry coming in from any boys. Her father has a business making baskets for local people and selling baskets he gets from Benares. The baskets don't get sold to tourists and so he doesn't get any direct benefit from Westerners with their money. They manage on her father's income but the seven dowries are a worry.
They all live in a small house with two rooms. Father and mother in one room, sisters in other room, but they all get on well and no-one snores! They don't have any land or animals, just the house, so they are totally dependent on their father's business to buy what they need.
One good thing about the house is that there is a hand-pump outside, so there is no problem with carrying water long distances. The water in the area isn't always clean though.
This is Priti Kumari's last year at the PV School. She is in Class 8 and next year she will go to the Government High School. She doesn't want to leave PV School. She would also like to come back one day and teach - Science, her favourite subject.
The third student I talked to was Afroz, from the Bodhgaya
bazaar area. He lives in a larger house with 5 rooms , his parents,
three sisters and two of his three brothers.
What he likes best is the discipline (!) at the PV school. Many
kids say this and it is often surprising for Westerners. I think
they like the discipline because they really want to learn and
find it frustrating to be in undisciplined classes. Afroz is pretty
disciplined himself, according to Sister Bindu. She said that
students are sent back home if they're late but Afroz is never
late. He likes maths, wants to go to the Government High School
then onto college for the final 2 years, then maybe a BA.
His real passion though is art. He won a local art competition, he can draw cartoons and portraits and Sister Bindu had the view that he really was talented. Afroz wants to develop his artistic skills as well as the more formal academic study. And he is already thinking how he could make a living from art: commission paintings, wall painting, pictures for tourists, maybe of Bodhgaya landmarks and monasteries, portraits, pictures of the Dalai Lama. His mother says that he needs to do all the formal schooling first before going to Art School. Sounds like what a Western parent might say. She said that when his formal schooling is finished, he might be able to go to Art School in Calcutta. That's his dream.
The last student I talked to was Anku Kumari. She comes from a village about three kilometres away and often comes to school with the nuns in a rickshaw. She has seven in her family: her parents, herself, the eldest, two sisters a brother and an aunt. She does the cleaning and sometimes the cooking. She's 11. It's hard to imagine many Western 11-year-olds with that level of responsibility. When pressed, she said that she liked cooking, and reluctantly admitted that she cooks well.. They use firewood and plug-in electric stove (but frequent power outages make that not very reliable). She said that that morning, before coming to school, she cleaned the house totally and cooked breakfast for everyone in the family– chapatti and vegetables. After school she'll eat, study, play a bit with her friends. I asked her what games they play, wondering if children's games were similar, and found that they play Hide and Seek! Also a game catching stones on the back of the hand, and another one in groups where one group splits off and tries not to be caught by the other group. Some things sound similar the world over.
All of Anku's friends go to school, and her and her 2 sisters and one friend come to PV school. She said that if she didn't come to school she would be at home doing housework. She thinks she is likely to get married around 18 - quite old for some parts of India: the education makes the difference. She'd like to go to the Government High School after finishing at PV school, and go on to teach Science. (Another one wanting to be a teacher).
I talked further with Sister Bindu. She comes from Kerala in the South of India, she joined the Congregation of (Christian) Nuns in 1989 in Varanasi, and then took full l ordination 1994. Then she did a BEd in Jamshedphur and started teaching. Before the PV school, she was teaching in Chattisgarh State in an English medium school (many schools in India teach in English rather than the pupils native tongues) She said she really loves teaching.
She particularly likes the PV School because it's just for the poor and gives free education for those who can't afford it elsewhere. She doesn't know how long she'll be able to stay because her Order can simply call her away and assign her other duties.
Apart from the principal role she teaches English, reading
and writing, and she says she likes all of them. I commented on
how the kids here seem to enjoy going to school and that's often
not the case in the West. Sister Bindu said they know that school
is their opportunity to make something of their life and so they're
motivated.
She would like to have classes up to Class 10 – many pupils
can't go on because they can't pay fees for better schools and
in the Government school she said there is no real teaching. She
said in the Government School the teachers often just come to
collect their salary and don't teach at all.
She said there is great demand from parents for classes up to Class 10, but that it's just not possible at the moment as they have no space, no classrooms. There are 475 students already. And looking at the building myself, I found it hard to believe you could fit so many in
Sister Bindu talked about the problem of waste water overflow from the bigger hotels which is likely to get worse as tourist numbers increase. There are no laws or regulations governing such things and it's a problem because the dirty water can lie around for months and turn into a mosquito breeding ground. There had been a debate about whether to move the school because of this but in the end, mainly due to the cost of moving and building a new school, the decision was made to stay put.
There has been some expansion of the school in the last year: two more classrooms have been built and they are now used as nursery classes for 5-year olds. They are teaching them reading and writing and numbers.
She said there were only two sisters available from her congregation
for and it was hard to find trained teachers, in part because
qualified teachers need to be paid more. Most of the teachers
there are untrained so they don't have good teaching skills. Many
of them have a BA but not a BEd or other teacher training. She
said some were good but others not so good. She gives professional
development seminars on teaching methods, but she doesn't think
it is enough.
Sister Bindu said that one of the challenges was to try to stop
the students going out begging. She said she understands it is
very tempting for the kids with so many rich tourists around.
She also said that there was no religious education in the school, and so far no conflict between the Christianity of the nuns and the local Hinduism . She said the locals genuinely appreciate what the nuns are doing for the area.
She went on to say her greatest joy is knowing that the school is doing something for the most under-privileged children. Some of the old students come back to visit and they are often doing something that they wouldn't have been able to do without having gone to the PV School: like further studies or even university or in business. One of then went to Bombay and now works in a shipyard. She said that if it hadn't been for the school they would more likely be at home or in the fields or begging.
Of the many students who had aspiration to teach, she thought that in general it was not so realistic, but good to see that teachers were being admired and that students wanted to emulate them.
She said that many girls don't continue studies after going to the PV School. They just stay at home until they get married. Even so, their education still brings many benefits. They have a taste for education and are likely to make sure their own children get educated, they know how to manage money better, have better hygiene and understand the importance of cleanliness, they don't get cheated in the market because they can read. They also tend to be more disciplined.
Sister Bindu would like to expand the school to teach up to Class 10 and find good teachers. Both these things need more money. She hopes some teachers will "be charitable" and accept a lower salary, but this is not something to count on. Her dream is to have more children coming to the school and to make a real difference to the community.
Walking back from the school I thought of all the things in the West we take for granted.
Prajna Vihar School 2005-6
Victor
von der Heyde
At a glance: 530 students enrolled (2006) ; ages 4-15; up to Class VIII (new Class IX starting 15 July 2006); priority given to students from very poor families who would not otherwise receive an education; Hindu, Christian and Muslim teachers; Buddhist, Christian and Hindu members on the Board of Directors, funding predominantly from people in the Insight Meditation and Buddhist communities; 12 teachers; subjects taught: English, Hindi, Maths, Science, Social Studies, General Knowledge, Ethics, Drawing, Craft, Dance.
The school is going well and there have been a few new developments. The school buildings are slowly being expanded: in addition to the two new classrooms that were built in 2004-5, the decision was made in January this year (2006) to build another extra classroom on the first floor. This will cost around A$5900 and address the problem of having two classes taught at different ends of the one room.
Teachers at the PV School have in the past been paid less than teachers at other schools in the area and we have fortunately been in a position to increase the salaries. The new rates are 3000 rupees per month for teachers (A$88) with a two month bonus (A$176) per year, and 5000 rupees per month (A$147) for the principal, also with a two month bonus per year.
After finding the best way to get through the various bureaucratic hurdles to do with appropriate registration of the school as a legal entity, a process which took many years, we were finally in a position earlier this year (2006) the apply to regularly transfer funds from overseas directly to one of the school accounts. This is known as the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) application. We are hoping that this will be approved in the next few months. This would make the accounting arrangements with the school much more straightforward.
There was a report recently on some of the old students who were in the first intakes of the school in the early 1990s. For poor and generally low caste kids, some of them have done very well. One is doing further study to prepare for medical school entry, two are studying Chinese at the Shanti Niketan University in Kolkata, one trained in electronics and works in that area in Chennai (Madras), one got qualifications in marine engineering, one is studying Japanese at the Indira Gandhi Open University and others have jobs in hotels. It is hard to imagine that kids would be in these sorts of positions if it were not for the PV School. In general while many of the boys continue their education, it is unfortunately not so common for the girls.
There is still the drainage problem next to the school - this has been a problem for years - and at times the school looks from some angles like it is in the middle of a lake. There has been a commitment from the head of the local government body (the Gaya District Commissioner, who came and inspected the area) to have the problem fixed and while we're not holding our breath, it could well happen.
At the beginning of the year there were discussions between the principal and teachers as to how many new students to take in. There were lots of applications and this is partly because there are a many poor people trying to get their kids into a school and partly because the school has a good reputation. In the end the teachers and principal decided to take in considerably more than they had before. This has resulted in very large class sizes which have proved a little difficult. Next year the numbers taken in may not be so high.
There is room for improvement in the facilities and support for the teachers. Some of the items on the teachers' wish-list in January this year were:
(a) a teacher training program at least once a year
(b) teaching aids (maps, charts of animals, birds, flowers)
(c) more limits on the number of students per class
(d) a science lab, and
(e) being able to offer classes up to Class X (currently Class
VIII is the highest)
From the 15th of July this year (2006) there will be for the first time a Class IX. This was partly a response to requests (or pestering in the words of the Principal) from Class VIII students, partly a wish from the teachers and it was made possible because we had the funds.
Teachers also wanted the students to have a more substantial playground. We're hoping this will happen by the end of the year.
In the past teachers had hoped to arrange a study tour for some of the senior student and in February this year, this finally happened.
Thirteen students aged around 14 years old went with the Principal,
Sister Bindu and three other teachers to Kolkata (Calcutta) on
short study tour. Kolkata is about 500 kilometres away. The trip
was enabled by one particular donation. Even though Bodhgaya is
not far from the Gaya railway station, it was the first time many
of the students had been on a train. After the trip they wrote
about their experience, and here is the translation.
We consider ourselves very lucky to get an opportunity to visit
Kolkata. We went from Gaya on 25th February by the Poorva Express.
We reached the Howrah station in Kolkata in the evening and went
to the Bengal Buddhist temple by taxi. There we were given rooms
to stay. After having our dinner at a restaurant we went off to
sleep. Next day after breakfast sister took us to the zoo. We
were amazed to see all the different animals, and birds and snakes.
We saw most of them for the first time. We saw snakes which were
poisonous and snakes which were not poisonous, big birds which
could fly, and even animals which could swallow a human being.
The world is such a marvellous place! In front of the giraffes
we felt ourselves very small. We were very happy to meet our ancestors,
monkeys. Even though we didn't want to leave, we had to, because
we were going to visit the Science City in the afternoon.
We got inside the Science City by a lift, and in that you could get an all round view of the whole place. First we went to the space theatre, where we heard about the seasons, and how much they effect our lives. Then we went into a mirror maze where we saw ourselves in different shapes. In some glasses we saw ourselves without heads and in some without a body. The different mirrors are made of concave and convex lenses. It was wonderful.
From there we went to a place called Evolution Park. It had animals of the past like dinosaurs and huge reptiles and showed the life style of early man, how he walked, ate and lived amongst the wild animals.
After that we went for a boat ride on the River Hooghly. The boat had a special provision for orchestra. From the river the famous Howrah Bridge looked beautiful, adorned with lights. The next day we went to see Queen Victoria's memorial by metro. It was the first time we had been on the metro. The memorial is a historical place, and we were told of the British rule in India. We had many photographs taken in the garden. From there we went shopping. Due to lack of money we purchased only few things but we enjoyed looking at the shops and the crowd. Though the city is thickly populated, the traffic rules and other rules are well maintained.
The roads over there are very clean and the people are educated.
The tour was a learning and enriching experience for us. Bodhipala
Bhante was a great help for us. He arranged everything for us
to make our stay and tour comfortable. We are grateful to Sr.Bindu
and all those who have arranged and made this trip possible for
us.
Prajna Vihar School 2006-7
Victor von der Heyde
Our school continues to expand: there's now 560 students, up 30 from last year, and in January the first Class X started with a new teacher. The school is thriving but we still have challenges.
The FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) application, which would allow funds to go directly from overseas to the school account, still hasn't been processed by the Home Ministry. As usual we're hopeful it will happen soon. Everything has been done now to follow the rules: a legal body formed, called the Prajna Vihar Inter-religious Education Society, Indian citizens as the signatories on the bank account and every "i" dotted and "t" crossed. We just have to wait.
For some years we have been hoping to buy the land next to the school for a playground and to build extra classrooms. The plan was for this to happen when the FCRA went though. We have the funds to buy the land and there is now no problem with restrictions from the nearby World Heritage area listing of the main (Mahabodhi) temple and precinct. But there is a new catch. Why did we think it would go smoothly?
There is something called the Land Ceiling Act, which was brought in across India 30 years ago with the intention of limiting accumulation of small blocks of land - which had been given to lower classes - by larger landowners. In the late 1990s the central government repealed the Act and so did many states but some didn't. One of the states that didn't is Bihar. Originally we did some checks to see if the land in question came under this Act and it appeared that it didn't. Now it looks like it may but we need a lawyer to investigate further. If we can't buy it then our intention is to buy other land close by.
We asked the principal of the school, Sister Bindu, whether she could send us something to give a picture of what life was like for some of the kids at the school. She asked two students to write about their lives (a "life sketch" she called it) and then she translated them into English for us. Here are the sketches:
Jyoti
My name is Jyoti. I am the eldest daughter of Mr.Dwarika Sao and Renu Devi. There was great rejoicing in the family at my birth. My house is in a remote village, where there is no provision for electricity, education, medication etc. I belong to a poor family. My father is a farmer. When I was six years old, my brother fell very seriously ill. He couldn't get proper treatment as there were no doctors in the village. My maternal grand parents came to my house and took my brother to a hospital but it was too late. He passed away before reaching the hospital.
We are six girls and two boys. As a young girl of six years, my grandmother brought me home with her and got me admitted in Prajna Vihar School. I consider myself very lucky to have got admitted in PVS. I sincerely wish there was something like a PVS in my village. None of my brothers and sisters are going to school as there are no schools in my village. I feel happy and privileged to be a student of PVS where I am given an all around education.
Due to poverty at home my grandparents are planning to get me married. But I do not want to get married now as I am only 14 years old. My parents do not want to educate me as they have no money to meet expenses. My father is a drunkard and due to this there is often fights in the family. I am grateful to Sr.Bindu for talking to my grandparents and stopping them from getting me married.
I have a great desire to study and get into a job. Currently my life is going through lots of struggles and difficulties. I do not know if I will ever meet my desire.
Dilip Kumar
My name is Dilip Kumar Chawdhari. I am the youngest child of my parents. I have two brothers and one sister. All of them are married. I am from a very poor family. When I was a little boy we didn't even have a mat to sleep on. With great difficulty we used to have one meal a day. We have experienced the cruelty of poverty and illiteracy. My parents are illiterate.
I was born in 1991. My father removes toddy (sap) from palm trees. For a month every year he works as a cook in Thai temple when the meditation retreats are on. My brothers work in a hotel - one as a cook and one as a waiter. My mother has a heart problem and is under treatment. My father and brothers find it difficult to meet the expenses of the house and the treatment for my mother.
I was interested in studies from when I was quite young. I started my schooling at the age of five and came first in every class. But slowly I lost interest in studies and got into bad company. I used to waste away my time playing cards with friends. One day I happened to see one of my friends preparing for a military entrance exam. To my surprise he passed in 1st division. It was an inspiration for me to turn my mind back to studies. Now I work hard to do well.
I joined PVS as a student of class VII. Here I have two good friends, Anuj and Preetam, who are also good in studies. After joining PVS I have changed a lot. I have become more confident and disciplined. The principal and the teachers are very understanding and supportive to me.
My favourite subjects are maths, science and English, and my favourite games are cricket and football. My whole-hearted aim in life is to become an army officer.
Visit to families of two of the PV School students
Rick Peterson, one of the members of the PV School management committee, went with two of the school teachers, Mr. Wajid and Mrs. Sapna, to talk with a couple of parents. This was to get a picture of how things were for some of the families that students came from.
First we went to Mastipur, adjacent to the school and visited a mother named Jinta Devi, Devi meaning Goddess, which is a kind of title. She has 3 children and all are attending our school. Two boys are aged 10 and 8 named Rohit and Rocky. The girl is named Laxmi and is 6 years old. Their father works as a waiter at the Vaishal Restaurant near Shanti Buddha Hotel, for those of you who are familiar with Bodh Gaya. He works 6 days a week from 7 am until 9 pm and earns 1600 rupees per month [about $48 Australian]. Our teacher Mrs. Sapna said the eldest boy is very active in the school, meaning he volunteers when there is some work or something that needs to be done.
Asking Jinta Devi how she feels about the school, she said she is very happy with the school. She says the children are doing well. I asked her about what encouragement she gives her children and she replied that she sends the children daily and on time to school. Actually this is very important in the poor community, for many of the problems with students dropping out seem to be caused by poor attendance. She gives encouragement to the children to complete their homework. The children talk about the school and they are happy with it and with the teachers and the principal, Sr. Bindu.
She also added that she believes in God and hopes that God will help the children succeed and maybe become doctors or engineers. She said those children who attend the school become disciplined and behave nicely. This is important for in these poor villages the children who don't go to school can be quite wild and dirty, with no sense of dignity.
Some other villagers started gathering around. One lady praised the school saying it is the best in Bodh Gaya. Mrs. Sapna asked if they had any suggestions, and when they responded only with praise, she encouraged them to tell negative things. One man suggested that children who leave the school during the school year should have the chance to rejoin the school.
Another lady said that entrance exam should not be required for admission as these children are coming from poor families, and they only learn after going to school.
Then we met one of the girl students, Dolti Kumari, who left the school after class 7 as her parents were forcing her to marry. Her parents are very poor. Mr. Wajid said her father is an electrician in Gaya. Dolti said that her life was bodh achaa, very good, in our school, but she is not feeling good after marriage.
As we left Mastipur another boy, Ganesh, came to say hello. He had left the school after class 6. He left our school back in 1999 to work his family's fields. Three years ago his father died, and since then he got a rickshaw and has been earning money as rickshaw puller. He said he wasn't working today as he'd become exhausted from his work. He is a small boy and I imagined that bicycling some heavy family around Bodh Gaya must be a strain for him. But the others said that somehow he adjusts. Recently his rickshaw was stolen so now he has to rent a rickshaw for 20 rupees per day. Generally he earns about 60 to 80 rupees per day so he will only get 40 to 60 to take home [$1.20 to $1.80 Australian]. Where I live in Tiruvannamali [South India] the female labourers get paid more. Still he seemed like a happy boy.
Then we headed over to a village area called the Colony, near the Kagyu Monastery, where many Moslems live. Mr. Wajid took us to a house where two young twin boys, Asik and Mashuk, are in the lower kindergarten class in our school. Their family has faced very difficult times. Their grandfather is dead. Two years ago their uncle, who was the driver for a local member of parliament, was driving the MP and Naxalites, Maoist rebels, attacked their car and all in the car were killed. Then 5 months later their father died from gallstones. Now they have one uncle who works at a local hotel as a sweeper for 1000 rupees per month [$30 Australian]. So that is all the income they said they had for 8 or 10 members in the house.
The feeling there was very sad, and it was difficult to ask many questions about the school, especially to the mother. The grandmother said they are very happy with the school and the boys are eager to attend the school. Sometimes they are late and run off without breakfast. She had no complaints. She was very happy when she heard that the school added class 10. Their cousin Firdaus is studying in class 10.
After we left the house, we saw the father of one of our teachers, Raj Kumar, and he invited us in for tea. We learned of the difficulties their family faces. Raj Kumar's wife has ecolitis and has to spend 1800 rupees per month [A$54] on medicine. Raj Kumar's salary is only 3200 per month [$96 Australian]. His father fell from a second floor while doing his trade, carpenter work, at the Thai Temple. The local doctor told him that his life was finished, but someone from the local Japanese temple got him some help and now he is back working again.
It was touching to visit the people in the 2 villages and share their joys and their suffering.
Prajna Vihar School Expenditure
- 2006 (530 students)
| Indian Rupees | Australian Dollars | |
| Books, periodicals & other educational expenses | 52,523 | 1,582 |
| Salaries with bonuses | 662, 300 | 19,954 |
| Phone | 3,106 | 93 |
| Water | 311 | 9 |
| Electricity | 2,642 | 79 |
| Stationary | 20,080 | 605 |
| Travelling and study tour | 14,721 | 443 |
| Milk, snacks and fuel | 14,846 | 447 |
| Total | 770,529 | 23,215 |
PV School students dancing in their finery at the yearly presentation to westerners