“Towards a new light”
This post has been a long time coming. I have drafted innumerable versions of this and still haven’t found a perfect one. None of them seem to fit or be apt but never the less here we are…
Over the past year on my social media I have been sharing pictures of my team and I trekking over 100 kilometres on really rugged terrain with some really breath taking views. Its not that I like walking 100 kilometres up and down the same track but all this was for a really challenging project that I never thought would mean everything to me.
Kadi lies comfortably on top the range. This picture was taken by me before we started the climb. Major crisis in my head at the time.
Kadi, a cluster of 5 villages situated on the border of Manipur and Nagaland far away from a comfortable life, has some of the most stunning landscapes and endearing people I have ever come across and I have been to Switzerland.. ( not showing off). But unfortunately, for the people and children the remoteness of the place proved to be an impediment to the overall development of the area. It all began when a re-presentative from Kadi had a vision for his people and was bold enough to approach Sunbird Trust and ask for our help- Lavner Chawang, who later on was not only someone I worked with but also became a friend. He realized the importance of education in today’s day and age and wanted to establish a school along with Sunbird Trust so the children up there could get a fair shot at life.
Kadi, unfortunately has fallen into the traps of insurgency. Conflict leads to an insufficiency of education which further results in conflict. It really is a vicious cycle.
The people there also have quite a love-hate relationship with the Army and this project was also a great opportunity to change any stereotypes that both sides may have about each other. How? By getting the Indian Army involved with the construction of the school. Imagine a Sikh soldier carrying and mixing concrete for a school building in a conflict affected area in the North East . This image in my head speaks volumes.
In our first visit there my team and I surveyed the area and met the people and we absolutely fell in love with the place and we just HAD to do it.
My role was to facilitate the construction of the school. So after making the budget and the plan for the school came the hard part. I know I said its a beautiful place with lovely people but getting there is a 45 km trek and which mostly uphill, there is no electricity, zero phone connectivity and no one speaks English or Hindi fluently. But over time its gets easier and as we know we as humans are configured to adapt.
Lavner and I on the school site.
Wood for the school, sawn and kept.
Planning of the school. We used ropes and stick as measurement references.
Setting up rest camps for the laborers.
For all those who are genuinely interested in my experience, I wish you could enter my thoughts and see what I have seen and lived what I have lived. It is the most beautiful yet terrifying experiences I have ever had.
First of the walk to the site was amazing the first couple of times but after a while it starts to get to you and then its no more about the body but you put yourself under a series of mental tests and questions such “Why are you doing this?” and “Why are you here ?” gets thrown around in your head. After a point every step I took, my body resisted and rebelled but my mind kept strong and my heart stronger.
Secondly and more importantly in addition to the physical test was the ability to cope with myself or in other words – loneliness. In a place with no electricity one definitely learns effective management of their phone battery.
But above all I met so many people and children who thought the world of me but instead I was humbled, for I was left counting my blessings for everything I’ve got and most importantly having the gift of an opportunity.
Hopefully the school gives the children an opportunity and instead of falling into the realms of insurgency they run into the arms of education.
Kids playing football with posts made of sticks!!
The school will be called Kawikengou Friendship School and hopefully if circumstances permit it will start next year. Kawikengou means – “Towards a new light”. It’s kind of uncanny because now that I have moved to a new place it also marks a new beginning for me. I wish I could stick around and see the school and children in it grow but that’s not how life works.
At least I can say I started the movement.