Smt P M J Gandhi Vidyalaya

Down in Wadhwancity, things move at their own pace. Smt P M J Gandhi Vidyalaya is located right in the heart of this part of Surendra Nagar, zip 363030. The building is an older style, typical for this region of Gujarat. You can hear the sounds of the city outside the windows, the rickshaws and the local vendors going about their business. Inside, the hallways are usually full of students rushing to their next class. We have a lot of old wooden cupboards filled with old records and books that have been there for years. The teachers here have been working together for a long time, so we all know each other’s habits. We don't have any of those modern glass walls or fancy gadgets you see in city schools. It is mostly just chalkboards and benches. During the monsoon, the rain hits the roof so loud we have to stop talking for a minute. We spend our mornings checking the attendance and making sure everyone is wearing their uniform correctly. Surendra Nagar can get incredibly hot, so the overhead fans are always spinning at full speed, making that clicking sound. It is a very normal, everyday kind of place. We don't put on any shows for anyone. The parents come in to talk about their kids, and we sit on the plastic chairs in the office and just have an honest chat about how they are doing. It is just a school for the community. We've been here for many years now, watching different generations pass through the same gates.