Prime Highlights:
- Darshna Chaudhary, a dedicated teacher from Rajasthan, transformed a small rural school into a centre of learning and hope through her hard work and compassion.
- Her efforts inspired families to value education, especially for girls, and helped many students dream of a brighter future.
Key Facts:
- The Government Upper Primary School in Katailpura now has 122 students, 61 boys and 61 girls, with a team of six teachers.
- One of Darshna’s students, Shyam, went on to join the Indian Air Force, becoming the first from the village school to achieve such success.
Background:
In the quiet village of Katailpura in Rajasthan’s Dholpur district, a government school teacher’s determination has turned a neglected school into a centre of hope. For nearly a decade, Darshna Chaudhary, a 42-year-old teacher, has walked five kilometres daily from Basedi to reach the Government Upper Primary School, where she teaches children from Classes 1 to 8.
When Darshna first arrived in 2015, the school had just 17 students, most attending only for the mid-day meal. “There were no proper roads, barely any classrooms, and hardly any interest in education,” she recalls. With patience and hard work, Darshna improved the school and helped the village believe in education again.
She lived in the village, met families, and spoke to parents who were unsure about sending their daughters to school. Slowly, her efforts paid off. The school now has 122 students, equal numbers of boys and girls, and six teachers. Each morning begins with an assembly where students recite the Preamble to the Constitution, lead prayers, and answer questions with confidence.
Darshna teaches subjects like English and social studies and uses simple, creative ways to make learning enjoyable and practical for her students. “When we study geography, we make a volcano from soil. When we talk about plants, we go to the fields,” she says. Even when power outages lasted months, she and her students continued studying under trees or by torchlight.
Her pride shines brightest when she speaks of Shyam, one of her former students who joined the Indian Air Force. “When I heard the news, I cried. He proved that even children from small villages can achieve great things,” she says.
Beyond the classroom, Darshna celebrates festivals, revives folk traditions, and encourages girls to play sports like kabaddi and kho-kho. Her dream now is to equip the school with digital classrooms and better infrastructure.
