The Chanakya Vidyalaya

We've been here in Baridih Basti for quite some time now. Amanpath is a busy little stretch, especially in the mornings when the parents are dropping their kids off at The Chanakya Vidyalaya. It gets a bit loud, but that’s just how things go in Jamshedpur. Most of us here grew up in or around Adarsh Nagar, so we know the people who walk through these gates. Our rooms aren’t fancy or anything. They’re just places where kids sit and try to figure out their lessons. Sometimes the fans make a bit of noise, and the desks have seen better days, but the teachers keep at it every day. People around here call us a school, but it feels more like a part of the neighborhood where everyone knows each other. You see the same faces at the local tea shop later in the afternoon. We don’t have big fancy billboards. Most of our students come because their cousins or neighbors came here before them. It’s a simple setup in a crowded part of town, but it works for us and the families nearby. Every year we see kids get a bit taller and then eventually they move on to bigger things. That’s just the cycle of life here on Amanpath. We keep the gates open, sweep the floors, and get ready for the next day. It's mostly about showing up and doing the work for the people living in Baridih.