It is heartening to see the villagers’ keen investment in the functioning of the school in Papikrung. They do not shy away from offering help with school maintenance when required. Prior to school reopening for the academic year 2023-24, and in the absence of the school watchman due to accidental injury, when requested, the parents and villagers came to collectively clean the premises and fix the school’s water supply system. This, considering it is not an easy decision for them to forgo farm work or daily wage work. This year school reopening coincides with the inauguration of the staff quarters constructed by the Indian Army. In the SMC meeting the villagers agreed to arrange a little farewell ceremony for the Army engineers. In preparation for the inauguration, in keeping with their tradition, they made a beautiful bamboo archway to honour the Army’s generous contribution to school infrastructure. The Army-constructed building, intended to be staff quarters for Sunbird team members, was decided to be initially used as students’ hostel until an actual hostel is (finally) constructed in this residential school. Sunbird members currently stay in the single 1-bhk house on campus built some years ago as staff quarters by the government. 

On a pleasant overcast morning that received moderate showers at dawn, in the embrace of lush mountain greenery, the villagers — men and women, the elderly, including the village chief (Gaon Bura), and the energetic, enthusiastic school kids, alike — came together over multiple tumblers of hot tea for a busy morning of bustling activity: to tidy up the school and set it in order for a special reopening, wherein student enrolment has soared over five-fold to hit around 100.