More than three decades of selfless service : Chandra Sir “The educational hero”
The incredible story of Chandra Bhandari, affectionately known as Chandra Sir, and his transformative work at Peepalbotey Pathshala, his open school , resonates deeply within the heart of Nepal’s educational landscape. Chandra Sir isn’t just a teacher; he’s a visionary who has championed the cause of free education for over three decades at his open school, a testament to unwavering dedication and profound community spirit. And remarkably, he’s still teaching, continuing to shape young minds with his boundless enthusiasm!
Chandra Sir’s journey in the remote village of Nepal is more than just about transforming struggling students. For over thirty years, he has poured his heart and soul into his open school under the Pipal tree, defying the pervasive challenges of poverty, scarce resources, and geographical isolation. His innovative methods, deep community engagement, and absolute commitment have led to astounding improvements in students. He’s made learning for the under privileged and needy not just accessible, but joyful and relevant.
Although Chandra Sir’s School mainly caters to children from the poor and socially backward classes, some children from the middle and upper classes are also studying here. Anyone can attend his Open School. Since there is no discrimination based on the socio-economic status of the parents and the school the child attends, students studying in government and private schools are almost equal.
Chandra Bhandari, a native of Dhankuta, Kagte, completed his education from Gokundeshwor Secondary School there up to SLC. The financial crisis he faced while studying at school made him known to everyone as Chandra Sir. When Chandra was in the ninth grade, the Dhankuta-Hile road was being constructed. During school holidays, he used to work on the same road to earn his education. He has not forgotten that at that time, he had to break stones on that road all day and carry stones all night in the moonlight.
After finishing his schooling, Chandra, who migrated from the mountains to the plains in 2044 BS, did not get the opportunity to enter higher education due to financial constraints. He could not sit idly by while any child around him was deprived of the light of education due to the same crisis he had experienced. It was his nature that inspired him to run an open tuition school for such children under a peepal tree on the banks of a river. When the school was first started, there were 10 children in his class.
Chandra Sir’s enduring legacy serves as a powerful inspiration for educators and communities striving to make a difference.His decades-long commitment to free, open education& selfless service at Peepalbotey Pathshala stand as an example of how passion and unwavering commitment can empower generations.
