"Blossom" (by Avishek)

Up in the Singalila Ridge bordering Nepal and India, lies the quiet little village of Dhotre in West Bengal, India. It overlooks the Sleeping Buddha, a series of 8 peaks in the Eastern Himalayas around Mt. Kangchen Dzö-nga that resembles a supine human figure.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:23:01 +0000

Up in the Singalila Ridge bordering Nepal and India, lies the quiet little village of Dhotre in West Bengal, India. It overlooks the Sleeping Buddha, a series of 8 peaks in the Eastern Himalayas around Mt. Kangchen Dzö-nga that resembles a supine human figure.
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Situated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, it bears a significant political history involving the demands of an independent state of Gorkhaland.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:24:24 +0000

Situated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, it bears a significant political history involving the demands of an independent state of Gorkhaland.
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At an altitude of nearly 8800 ft, the nights are filled with biting cold. People huddle around fire and makeshift ovens. The construction of these ovens is simple yet highly ingenious. An iron cylinder placed over burning coal allows air to pass through and burn the coal uniformly. It keeps the entire room and people sitting around it warm.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:25:38 +0000

At an altitude of nearly 8800 ft, the nights are filled with biting cold. People huddle around fire and makeshift ovens. The construction of these ovens is simple yet highly ingenious. An iron cylinder placed over burning coal allows air to pass through and burn the coal uniformly. It keeps the entire room and people sitting around it warm.
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The days are filled with hard work, simply to achieve a bare minimum standard of living.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:26:48 +0000

The days are filled with hard work, simply to achieve a bare minimum standard of living.
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Such a village has dared to dream. A school named Blossom, that has raised the hope for a better future.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:27:34 +0000

Such a village has dared to dream. A school named Blossom, that has raised the hope for a better future.
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3 of the villagers - Sushil Rai, Sangeeta Pradhan and Chinju Sherpa are the staff today, doubling up as teachers and support personnel.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:28:40 +0000

3 of the villagers - Sushil Rai, Sangeeta Pradhan and Chinju Sherpa are the staff today, doubling up as teachers and support personnel.
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Modesty and meagre means are often gifted by nature. Through a misty forest and across a huge playground overlooking a cliff, the path leads to Blossom – a School with a View.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:42:10 +0000

Modesty and meagre means are often gifted by nature. Through a misty forest and across a huge playground overlooking a cliff, the path leads to Blossom – a School with a View.
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Today the fight continues with not having enough teachers, rooms being shared for classes and an absolute minimum of stationeries and study material, some of which is ‘customized’ for need.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:30:07 +0000

Today the fight continues with not having enough teachers, rooms being shared for classes and an absolute minimum of stationeries and study material, some of which is ‘customized’ for need.
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Amidst this colossal struggle, the teachers manage to hold exams and promote students. Currently the school offers classes till the 7th standard.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:30:50 +0000

Amidst this colossal struggle, the teachers manage to hold exams and promote students. Currently the school offers classes till the 7th standard.
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Children wishing to continue studies have to go Manebhanjyang for further studies. Manebhanjyang is about 19kms from Dhotre – a distance which is not possible for kids to travel both ways everyday to attend school. As a result, children in Classes 8 to 12 have to rent houses and stay together. Often it is just one room with 3 beds and a small, makeshift kitchen. They have an extreme hard life, as they have to cook, keep their house and attend school from such a young age.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:31:48 +0000

Children wishing to continue studies have to go Manebhanjyang for further studies. Manebhanjyang is about 19kms from Dhotre – a distance which is not possible for kids to travel both ways everyday to attend school. As a result, children in Classes 8 to 12 have to rent houses and stay together. Often it is just one room with 3 beds and a small, makeshift kitchen. They have an extreme hard life, as they have to cook, keep their house and attend school from such a young age.
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Today, there is a lot of doubt and a lot of uncertainties to carry on… but there is also a little Pratiksha in many a Dhotre home, waiting to cross the bridge and step into light... a little Pratiksha, waiting for our help.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:42:25 +0000

Today, there is a lot of doubt and a lot of uncertainties to carry on… but there is also a little Pratiksha in many a Dhotre home, waiting to cross the bridge and step into light... a little Pratiksha, waiting for our help.
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Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:41:46 +0000

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Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:07:23 +0000

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Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:07:51 +0000

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