Photographic Stories, Punjab
Published on 11/10/2020
Comments 91

One Time at a Rural School In India: A Photographic Essay For Bharti Airtel Schools in Rural India

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It was a time of purity. I wasn’t affected by socially suited media still. I loved being away and explored possibilities, more than even my liking to reading. I had only recently started thinking about teaching as i had left my job as a researcher then, at a publishing house and of course without any extensive hope, I wanted to travel.

Good friends are the keys to the future doors. Juin called me one day at her office, and introduced me to her lady boss, in another publishing house. I went prepared and had an absolutely beautiful experience meeting her. She shared her travel stories and laughed well at mine. I could feel she loved hearing few things about what i had planned and while doing so she put forth an idea that she had been thinking. Her organisation had been providing free education and meals to primary school children in some north Indian states and had no documentation of it. She wanted someone to travel to these remote villages and document children studying in their schools.

I found this very promising and exciting. Yet as days moved towards commitment and planning of it, i started understanding the task was huge.

In Punjab, On initial days i decided to use the local transport, i.e travelling in a bus to the villages where my first school was. But once there all my excitement evaporated and i started finding my work harder, and even found myself puzzled at a few situations; as schools were in the villages, there was hardly any transport and i found myself walking for kilometres or probably had to take a bullock cart once. Organisation had not provided me with accommodation; i had to find my bed. And that bed came kilometres away in the cities as small cheap hotels. And to even start from hotel to school in the morning and back was even more disheartening as firstly it was far, the room stank, and for first two days i found that i cannot reach on my desired time like this. This was really helpless. And after some self-contemplation i decided to go back home to Delhi. I will get my bike and come back again.

I was happy, and even though i could not do any work, i was hopeful for i have found a way back. On the road to home bus stopped at a station. I felt hungry and got down to have something to eat, buy water bottle, when i realised on coming back that the bus has gone. Like, my bus left for ever, and from my hands; My camera, Organisation’s handycam, my every other little investment, rucksack was gone for ever. I sank. Huffing, anxious I started asking around about the bus, number etcetera when a rickshaw puller came and asked me for 200 rupees, imagine 10 dollars ten years back; on the seventh second of my decision making he held my hand and told me to sit right away and rode faster than any man-handled rickshaw pulling i had sat on to some speed, hr turn he took, narrow lanes arching past old world order colonial faded color buildings, taking probably the ablest possible cuts in the world as if that rucksack was more his than mine. I reached that point before the bus even arrived. And within seconds the bus was seen arriving. And you might understand that sweat, respite that i should not ever start describing in words.

Home was here.

In a week, i was ready with my bike to leave and it came out to be such an important decision for my life, as from here i would not only go back to these villages documenting children but find strength and confidence to take motorcycle journeys all across India, on it for moths, for years to come and ongoing.

And this time when i reached the same village in Punjab on my bike, teachers of the school were so shocked or filled with happiness or guilt may be, observing my conduct or resolve that they spoke to someone in the village for me and made sure that i stay in the village, with the family at their place for as long as i want. Imagine having milk and village food, with company of elders and children playing in the field.

Lets see some images from this old journey to school.


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Thank you

If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste


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I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly;

As a co-traveller, will take you through the Ten Lessons I learnt from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.

Also read: 9 Most Read Stories from Road To Nara in 2022


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You might also like to know about My Little School Project. 

If you wish to come over for a visit someday, that you must, you will be heartily welcome here


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If you have anything to share, or feel like saying a hello, please feel free to write to me at narayankaudinya@gmail.com

To visit other long-term photographic works, please visit here.


To follow my walks through the rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at 
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter


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Hi, I am Narayan Kaudinya. And i welcome you on this journey, the Road to Nara ! I am an Ethnographer and a practicing Indologist. I did my masters in History and further learnt Sanskrit, Yoga and Nerve-therapy. At 24, pushing most academic sounding, office sitting works away, i felt compelled to know and understand the world and my country, Bharat/India. I travelled, and as it happened i took up teaching in Kashmir and further up in the remote villages of Baltistan in the foothills of Karakoram Ranges. For around three years and many states later there came a time when i felt that it was only while teaching i learnt how to laugh, to see, feel, breathe, love and cry -with children, and mostly resource-less parents in the harshest-freezing border conditions. I write, and work as a documentary photographer and Filmmaker, with numerous published, exhibited and some awarded stories. In my travels and life i have let nature lead me, the divine mother, and as a Yogin, my resolve here is to share my experiences and thoughts as honestly, and through them to blossom in everyone the power and possibility in pursuing your breath, that you seek your true nature with courage and curiosity. Here, on this road i will share my spirit, my love for nature, the elements of life that are us. And in doing so, i'll be happy to see you along.

91 Comments

  2. gabychops says

    To say that I love this post is an understatement. My longstanding admiration and respect for the way you have chosen to live your life were never greater until now because of the full details of your journey which unfolded in your unique, inspired way of writing. The world desperately needs special people like you, Narayan. I also think, after reading your post that you can use social media, Instagram the way David Attenborough is using – to promote your ideas and inspire those who could, converted from the self-indulgent way, change the world for the better, for the generations coming after us. Perhaps, even save it.

    Joanna

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      You keep rekindling like your own light, raising me, improving me with each word Joanna, for this i feel indebted, not in terms that i have anything to give you but indebted to the one divine for making this flow happen.
      You know even this unconscious of mentioning Attenborough but for many years, i have been trying to read, whenever i get in the mood to read books like he speaks. Its way far off, but it comes out as fun picking his speech wavelength; but you are right nothing can be bad only if the energies can be transferred to a non-indulgent way.

      Love
      Narayan

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. drpassenger says

    wow.. interesting and hard at the same time. Glad that you choose to do travel and social work at the same time. feel jealous of your life.. ahaha.. Have a good day ahead.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      Hi, Lovely to have you and your words here. Half melody is as much a sweet melody 🙂
      Just that once you start becoming me, you won’t be even half jealous, and when you carry such a meaningful name Poshan.

      Thanks
      Narayan

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      ❤ Kirana. Thanks, yes just apart from those few minutes when i had lost everything. That was not adventure. ha ha. It was frightful 🙂 hope you are doing things happily as much healthily Kirana.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Kirana Bhat says

        Hmmm…yes…I suppose an adventure does not necessarily need to have an element of fright or danger….it can simply be out of the ordinary and still make a good story to share. Hope it never happens to you again!
        I am happy and healthy, thank you. You stay safe too!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      Radhika, passion is there yes i feel it and probably detachment to an extent does help in working better. Probably like all of us, this things, words are connected too.

      Thanks Radhika
      ❤
      Narayan

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      Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      Lovely to have you here dear Kritika, so right actually, even to be a teacher. Probably underrated but i don’t there is any other second things than be associated with children in forms that include giving.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. gary j says

    So beautiful words Narayan, the pictures filled me with love. If i was half the person you are, i would be happy and content. Peace and love to you and yours.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. Richa Bhargava Mitra says

    What a journey, capturing pure souls, absence of literally everything did not deter you. Im sure your bike and lenses have more stories to tell..if they could whisper…how the kids giggled away when you went back..the supersonic Rickshaw and his tales…above all your lenses which captured everything…every unspoken detail.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      Richa, it was my first big assignment, i was much delighted and excited. Though only in time i learnt about all these things but yes, even getting into a newer walls in a small village still excites me.
      I will try to share, yes bike has some lovely, memorable tales of falling many a times from and Camera, i cant even imagine. Sometimes i feel it would have been better to have only written.

      And Your words are as much delight to me Richa, always. ❤ to you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. www.corneliaweber-photography.com says

    Narayan, you are such an inspiration, for all how you do handle things in life with such an admirable positive attitude towards life and your surroundings, including your great eye that captures these children so naturally. Thank you for sharing your story. Have a blessed and inspirational week.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      aaa.. so lovely to hear you, i wish i could write your name and not marsupial but as you said its funny and so you are, but may be happier than funnier 🙂

      Thank you, yes i am in love with how my country India, and south Asia over all which once was one region together, works. I am in an ongoing, investigating mode of her secrets and ways we all are here living. It is electrifying to tell you, how it is and if i only start introducing to you to it, probably that was why i could not burst but wisely started letting out here 🙂

      Lovely to have you, welcome.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. gulfcoastpoet@gmail.com says

    Narayan, this is a spellbinding post. The personal account is riveting. Gorgeoru photos! I never saw more beautiful children! They seem healthy and happy! ❤

    What do you see in your future after the pandemic is over? It will be difficult to top what you have already done, but I am sure you will find a way! 🙂 All the best! Cheryl

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      ha ha Cheryl thank you so much. Yes they were happy.

      hmm.. well i have imagined all possibilities and came down to two. My country is so huge, noisy brimming with children that i am happy teaching/travelling, speaking and writing. Though next year i was thinking of taking up studies again but this is a period of transition, of change, and i/we have to flow. Hoping that you’ll be knowing it about all 🙂

      Love
      Narayan

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      Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      Dear Akshita, very happy to have you here. And ofcourse it is inspiring to know though friends and people along of the works one does.

      Your wishes are graciously accepted.
      Narayan

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      Reply
  27. D. S. Chauhan says

    Dear Narayan, you have devoted yourself to the noblest profession in the world-sharing & imparting education will promote future citizens of India capable of glorifying name of their country on the Global front! Our sincerest blessing ever with you for fulfilling our dreams!😁

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thank you dear Sir, teaching is in blood in a way as not just my parents, but all my relatives, and even their parents were teachers. And as you said, it seems to be the most important generation that we will come across as i, growing up through 90s are meeting children of today; it is an interesting mix of generation as you may imagine how life has transformed due to tech. but we need imagination to be sane.

      Thank you so much for your words again.
      We are going to need many more people, from here onwards

      Narayan x

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Parvathy, thank you so much. It was intriguing to find you moved a lot and about Mandi House. Had performed in many plays at SriRam centre.

      Lovely to have you.
      Regards. Nara x

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      Reply
  31. rothpoetry says

    I love your story! What a journey you took. The bus incident was most interesting. That rickshaw driver must have been really rolling along! :>)
    dwight

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    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks dear Dwight. It was lovely, memorable. I was young, and it was one of my first assignment for a big organisation. Later I learnt, as the rickshaw puller who was taking me, told me about how common it was there for people to miss buses. And only it made them money.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • rothpoetry says

        Interesting. Sounds like they set you up! Ha ha. You have had quite a lot of adventures in your time. So interesting!

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        Reply
        • Narayan Kaudinya says

          Ha ha.. O yes. Think so too. But it was better to pay little more than to have just stood cursing my fate 🙂 Thank you for journeying along my dear Dwight.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          • rothpoetry says

            No, I have not been a world traveler. My wife grew up in Alberta, Canada, so most of our travel was there an back. We took our 50th anniversary trip to Europe in 2019 and cruised up the Rhine. That was beatuiful I do have an Indian friend named Sriram who came from North of Delhi,

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            • Narayan Kaudinya says

              And he never invited you! Dwight, please plan something. It is important to see this part. To change, to even get a shock as they say for Asia, precisely India.

              And If you do, i promise to make an itinerary, arrangements and be a companion 🙂 Please come.

              Liked by 1 person

            • rothpoetry says

              Oh, my friend, I am much too old to make such a journey, but I greatly appreciate the invitation and your kind offer. Thank you very much

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