Dhaniram Patel Middle School

Out in Tehsil Rithi, life moves at its own pace. Our middle school is right here in the Katni district, serving the kids from the nearby villages. It’s not a huge place, but it serves its purpose for the local community. We spend a lot of our time making sure the kids actually show up, especially during the harvest season when things get busy at home. The school building is simple, with basic rooms and a small porch where we sit during the breaks. You won't find any high-tech gadgets here; it’s more about the blackboards and the notebooks. We have to keep an eye on the roof during the monsoon because it likes to leak a little in the far corner. The teachers are dedicated and often walk quite a distance to get here every morning. We know all the families in the area, which makes things easier when we need to talk to someone about their child. It’s a quiet spot most of the time, except when the kids are out for recess. We don't have a fancy canteen, so everyone brings their own food and sits under the big tree in the yard. It's a very practical way to run a school. We just focus on the basics and try to make sure the kids learn their numbers and letters properly. When the day ends, we lock up the rooms and head back to our own homes in the village or the town.