Nistha Vidyamandir

We’ve been here on Godhara Bypass Road in Halol for quite a while now. Most people know the spot because it’s right near the main road where all the trucks and buses go by. It gets a bit noisy sometimes, but we are used to it. The school is basically where the kids from around Panchmahal come to spend their day. We have the usual classrooms, a small area for sports, and a staff room that always feels too small for all of us. Mornings start early with the bell ringing and kids rushing through the gates. Some come on bicycles, others walk from the nearby houses. It is a simple place. We don’t have fancy stuff, just the basics like desks, boards, and books. The teachers here mostly live nearby too, so everyone knows everyone else’s family. Sometimes the power goes out and we have to open all the windows wide to get some air. It’s just how things go here. We spend our time trying to get through the syllabus and making sure the kids actually learn something useful. During the monsoon, the yard gets a bit muddy, but we manage. It’s a workplace for us and a place of learning for them. Nothing more, nothing less. We just keep doing our work every day, year after year, watching kids grow up and move on to bigger things. It’s not a glamorous life, but it’s our life here in Halol.