Thakur Shire Singh Inter College

Kukthala is a small village outside the main bustle of Agra. Life here is tied to the seasons and the fields, and our inter college is right in the middle of it. It’s a simple brick building that has seen many batches of students come and go. Most of the kids walk here from their homes or ride their bicycles along the dusty roads. In the winter, it gets quite cold, so everyone bundles up in heavy sweaters and shawls. The classrooms are basic, with wooden benches that have been repaired many times over. We don't have all the modern gadgets you might find in the city schools, but we make do with what we have. The teachers often live in the same village or nearby, so they know the families well. During harvest time, attendance sometimes drops because there is work to be done at home, and we understand that’s just how it is here. The courtyard is where everyone gathers for morning assembly under the open sky. It’s a quiet place for the most part, except for the sound of lessons being recited. We spend our days making sure the students are prepared for their board exams. It’s hard work, and the resources are limited, but we keep the gates open every day. It’s a place for the village kids to get their education without having to travel all the way into the city of Agra. We just take it one day at a time.