Samata

A Poem by Lokesh

Bamboo-crafted in white the school structures,
Tin roofs brownish and these remind old architectures.
Here lies surrounded the schoolchildren’s ground;
They run and turn, dance and glance, shout and crowd.
Two rows of dupis* lead a lane brick-laid
In the middle to the effigy of Buddha cemented.

Fifty curious pupils on wooden benches seat,
From books diverse, knowledge in their mind greet,
Of household chores and of great deeds they think,
Attired in uniforms in exercise books they ink
Classwork given and homework half-done while chalks a teacher,
And sometimes in his place stands a volunteering foreigner.

Forged in efforts of our Uttam sir and years gone by,
Surely Samata has touched the star-decked sky,
Provides education the cheapest of all and one of the best,
Spreading over Nepal and in health, it isn’t going to rest.
Forever embedded it will be in the pages of history;
Its children, its co-operation and care will bring prosperity.

Samata Shikshya Niketan is a non-profit making school that only charges Rs. 100 per month to the students from the kindergarten to the 12th standard. It’s central school is in Kathmandu, and has many branch schools in different districts of Nepal. It’s founder is Uttam Sanjel who established the central school in 2001. And each branch school is made up of bamboos. Now he’s going to run a clinic, Samata clinic, which is also bamboo-crafted. And in this very school I work and recently completed my studies of the 12th grade. I joined it in grade 7.

Dupi is a garden bush.

-Lokesh