In a remote village an hour and a half from Lucknow where there was no school for 400 square kilometers. a young boy’s determination to learn defied all odds. Starting from the tender age of ten, he walked for hours each day, navigating rough terrain and braving harsh weather, just to receive an education.
While walking through the scorching Sun and torrential rains, he only asked himself one question. “Why isn’t there a school in my village?”
Sadly, no one ever answered his question and he grew up with this one wish deep in his heart—to ensure that no other child from his village would ever have to ask that question again.
Your beloved storyteller Neelesh Misra’s father, Dr. S B Misra is our young boy from this story. He grew up in the small village of Deora in Lucknow and walked miles to reach his school. He was lucky enough to receive the higher education he wished for, eventually became a geologist, and even excavated a fossil- the Fractofusus Misrai during his career.
About the fossil, the Fractofusus misrai is an Ediacaran fossil which was discovered in the summer of 1967 by S.B. Misra at Mistaken Point, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, which has since become the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve. It was later named after Professor Misra in 2007.
But that one question about not having a school in his village kept haunting him through all of those years. Perhaps his ‘why’ was replaced by a ‘why not?’ with time. He now wished to build a school in his village.
With a scholarship, Dr. Misra went to Canada. If he wished he could have earned his citizenship there, but this dream brought him back to India. Can’t reveal the whole story here. To learn more about his incredible journey, we recommend reading the book, ‘Dream Chasing’ by S. B. Misra and learn it in his own words!
You can also read the article, ‘A geologist turned his back on fame and returned home to set up a village school’ by Gaon Connection on our official website. Additionally, listen to this in Dr. Shiv Balak Misra’s own words in the interview series, Conversations with my Father where he narrates the story to his son Neelesh Misra, the noted storyteller and host of the series.
The dream was fulfilled when the school, the Bharatiya Gramin Vidyalaya was built in the year 1972. Talking about the school, it continues to stand proudly with its determined white walls and comfortingly affectionate roofs. The building, once a dream of a young boy, has lived to be the birthplace of the dreams of countless children who will grow up to be India’s future.
Walking through the school premises I realized that when a dream becomes reality, it touches a million hearts!
Perhaps, upon coming back from Canada, the first heart this dream had touched was that of Mrs. Nirmala Misra, his wife.
“Unse shaadi ke liye jab mulaaqaat hui, to meri pehli shart yahi thi ki main Gaon mein rehkar school kholunga!”, Professor Misra mentioned in a conversation while we sat in the Slow Campus.
This being the only condition kept forward for marriage was surely enough to touch that one heart! And so deep must have been the impact of this condition and the determination of her husband that Mrs. Nirmala Misra made this dream equally hers. Even when the responsibility of their own children’s better future forced him to move out to Nainital for a better paying job as a professor, she stayed back promising to fulfill the dream, his dream, which had by then become her dream as well.
Dr. Misra while talking to me mentioned, “Main jab jaa raha tha.. Toh bahut niraash tha ki shayad ab school nahin chal paayega…”
He said that was when his newly wedded wife, who was still in her ghunghat, spoke with determination and told him, “ Kaise nahin chalega? Main chalaaungi school!”
He was definitely taken aback and doubtful, but Mrs. Misra’s words proved to be as true as her determination. Leaving her own toddlers at home with grandparents, she would go from house to house asking parents to send their children to school. The scorching Sun, the path-flooding rains could not stop her; the poor rural parents adamant to not spend a penny on their child’s education could not stop her. In fact, nothing really could!
The dream might have been of a husband, but his wife brought it to life! Am I wrong if I see this school as a symbol of pure love and compassion? Isn’t this school also a living example of one’s determination towards their goal?
Walking into each classroom and meeting the students of all ages, I could see the future shining in their mischievously innocent eyes. Talking to the 86 year old Dr. S B Misra, I could see the long-persistent years of hard work and sacrifice in his experienced eyes. The confluence of these two worlds made my visit to the school even more special!
Few of Mr. Neelesh Misra’s Slow Interviews have been shot in the premises of this school built by his parents.
Mrs. Nirmala Misra might not physically be with us anymore. But I promise, she continues to live through her school. Every ray of Sun, falling on the school, felt like a vigilant gaze of their beloved Principal Ma’am. Every falling leaf felt like a little pat of shabaashi on the back. Everything in that school campus, including the trees, the bricks and the furniture that has been there for years, would continue to narrate the persisting story of strength that they witnessed!
As we were concluding our visit to the school and sitting back in the car, he said to me, “Dekh rahi ho yeh school, Anshika? Ek aurat ki pachaas saal ki mehnat!… Aur ek chhota sa idea, jo ki mera tha…”
That one line coming from him completely transformed my vision for the school. It no longer looked like a mere building with classrooms. It had come to life and given me chills.
Truly, dreams when coupled with determination turn out to be the biggest inspirations!
I was reminded of a few lines by Robert Frost while I thought of this story:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep” – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
