Bagbir Paija, 61, returned home from England and has already helped Shikha Secondary School become a higher secondary school.[break]
He has spent around Rs 1.5 million of his earnings and helped transform the school destroyed by a fire eight years ago into a modern facility generating around Rs 30 million.
Among other things the school currently provides computer education and students can even use internet facility, a rare thing in such a remote village. It also has a well-equipped science lab, library, well managed hostel and playground, and educational materials. The school also has solar panels that ensure 24-hour electricity supply.
His day as chairman of the school management committee starts at five in the morning with cleaning the 10 toilets at the school. He stays back at the school during the night to make sure that the sorry tale of the past is not repeated.
Though Paija returned to Nepal after hearing about the arson at the school, all other members of his family still live in England. He eats his meals at a local hotel.
“He has brought about massive changes in the school forsaking a lucrative job in England,” Principal Jagadish Acharya was effusive in Paija´s praise.
When the teachers and students of the school were busy celebrating Dashain and Tihar festivals at their homes, Paija stayed put at the school. “I love this school more than my home,” he reasoned. His dedication to the school development has inspired other guardians as well.
“My main objective was to make high quality education accessible to the students of the village,” said the former soldier, who himself had passed just the eighth grade. “Now you need to get education even to get into the army,” he added.
He had joined the British Army in 1968 and worked as a security guard in England since his retirement in 1985. He was slighted by his friends and relatives when he decided to return to Nepal eight years ago.
“They used to call me crazy for giving up a comfortable life in England and choosing the hardship at the village. But they have now started to help me after hearing about the progress at the village,” he added with pride.
He returns to England once a year to meet his family and spends rest of the time working for the development of the village. Paija, who is also chairman of the local health post, has been active in construction of roads and electrification projects as well.
Related story
Chapakot Bamdi preparing to initiate homestay facilities
