Within the pristine hills of the Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh, a small village smiles with the hope of a greater future. And a Padma Shri awardee has been a pioneer in bringing that hope.
From developing to operating a particular residential college and orphanage for the youngsters of the district, Lama Thupten Phuntsok is making certain a house for the youngsters. What began in a small shed-like college with solely 17 college students is a flourishing temple of training as we speak.
“College students from the college have turn into attorneys, engineers and IAS officers too. It was my hometown and I felt accountable to do one thing for the youngsters right here,” he says in a dialog with The Higher India.
Presently, the college provides meals, shelter and clothes to greater than 300 college students. In want of fixed assist, you possibly can assist Lama Thupten too. Right here is how.
Coming again house
Lama Thupthen recollects, “It began on October 30, 1998, with 17 very needy and poor youngsters. The institution of such an establishment on this space was crucial as a result of dire circumstances and lack of assets.”
Born in the identical space, he went to Mysuru in Karnataka for increased training. “I was born and raised in Tawang district, in a distant border space in Arunachal Pradesh. My early training was at a neighborhood monastery earlier than transferring to South India for increased research,” he says.
Whereas he was finishing his commencement there, he spent 12 years in Mysore. “I studied Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan language, finally incomes my PhD in the identical,” he shares.
“Upon returning, I witnessed many challenges in the area people such because the absence of gynaecologists, resulting in maternal deaths. Quite a few street accidents have been leaving youngsters orphaned right here. The village services have been extraordinarily poor, and malnutrition was rampant. These points led to a big variety of orphans within the space with nowhere to go,” he says.
The kids would typically find yourself dwelling with their kin who lacked the means to lift them, he explains.
In a bid to deal with this dire scenario, he determined to open an orphanage and a faculty. At the moment, he was working as a trainer in a faculty within the space.
“I labored for round seven years whereas nurturing this dream and saving for it. I used my private financial savings from working at Tawang Public College for seven years,” he says.
He continues, “I bought a chunk of land from native homeowners, and with the assistance of the native military authority, we levelled the bottom and constructed small huts utilizing mud, stone, and tin sheets. We began with eight rooms and employed three educating employees, together with myself. We taught on daily basis, masking topics like Buddhist philosophy and the native language.”
These children who stayed with their kin typically lived as housemaids or caretakers for his or her cousins. “Initially, we confronted difficulties in convincing them to ship their orphaned youngsters to us. Nevertheless, these youngsters have been in a really poor situation affected by malnutrition and neglect,” he says.
Regardless of these challenges, Lama Thupthen managed to assemble 17 youngsters by 1998.
The college, Manjushree Vidyapeeth, presently is a house to greater than 300 college students.
“The attention about our orphanage grew, and extra folks began sending their youngsters to us. Regardless of no authorities assist till 2015-16, we managed to lift funds via overseas sponsorships and my private travels for fundraising. By 2010, we had round 57 youngsters,” he says.
He provides, “Our perseverance paid off and now we’ve got over 300 youngsters, separate dormitories for girls and boys, a tutorial block, and round 37 employees members.”
He shares how even the Dalai Lama visited them twice, as soon as in 2003 and once more in 2009, appreciating their efforts.
The kids that the college takes in come from numerous age teams and backgrounds, typically with no prior training.
“We offer them with vocational coaching in fields like tailoring, wooden carving, plumbing, and lodge administration, serving to them safe employment,” he provides.
Over 300 youngsters thrive within the college!
Speaking concerning the numerous hurdles and challenges he confronted operating the college, Lama Thupthen shares, “The native military station offered further assist with dry rations and clothes. We had no electrical energy, no consuming water, and no correct roads. We fetched water from a close-by stream, boiled it for consuming and cooking, and used firewood for it. Life was powerful, however we persevered.”
He provides, “In 2003, the Dalai Lama visited our place and generously supported us financially, masking trainer salaries for 5 years. Step by step, we requested and obtained electrical energy from the federal government.”
The changemaker and the college has obtained a number of awards for his social work, together with the Perry Award and a gold medal from the state authorities. The nationwide authorities additionally recognised their efforts in baby and girls welfare and awarded him the Padma Shri in 2007.
The college teaches all the themes and is affiliated to CBSE as much as class 10. The college even has laptop programs to assist college students with vocational coaching.
“A lot of our former college students have now grown up and are working in numerous fields, together with medical, banking, and authorities sectors,” he informs.
He shares, “After finishing their education, we assist our college students pursue increased training in numerous schools. A few of them research in Delhi, Mangaluru, and different locations, specialising in fields like nursing, engineering, and lodge administration.”
In recent times, the infrastructure in our distant space has improved considerably and we’re higher off from the place we began, he shares.
At present, the college cares for kids from 34 districts, together with Tawang, West Kameng, and East Kameng districts, offering them with training and a brighter future.
How are you going to assist?
Lama Thupten doesn’t have to be the one one holding the college operating.
The college is at all times searching for assist in money or type. You may assist them by donating a small quantity which is able to sponsor a toddler for a month. It should embrace their training, meals, clothes and shelter.
“The price of supporting a toddler is Rs 600 monthly for Indian sponsors and $1 per day for overseas sponsors. We rely closely on overseas sponsorships and particular person donations for funding,” says Lama Thupten.
(Edited by Padmashree Pande; All Pictures Credit score: Lama Thupten)
