Lala Lajpat Rai Secondary School

Lala Lajpat Rai Secondary School sits in Pundag, Ranchi. It’s a part of the city that has seen a lot of change over the years. Our school stays pretty much the same though. It is a place where you find kids from all over the neighborhood coming in every morning. The gates open early and the watchman watches as the cycles pull in. Inside, the hallways are usually quiet once classes start, except for the occasional voice of a teacher explaining a difficult science concept. We don’t have those fancy glass walls or air-conditioned lobbies you see in big cities. It is more about old-fashioned classrooms with windows that let in the breeze when it's nice outside. The staff room is always a bit cluttered with notebooks and tea cups. We talk about the kids and how they are doing in their exams. Sometimes the playground gets a bit dusty when the wind picks up, but the students don’t seem to mind much when they are playing football. It is a simple life here in Ranchi. We focus on the books and getting the syllabus finished. Parents come by to talk about their children’s progress, often sitting in the office for a quick chat. It’s an honest way to run a school. We just try to keep a steady routine for everyone. Life here isn’t complicated, it’s just about getting the work done and making sure the kids are actually reading their lessons.