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CHUSKIT GOES TO SCHOOLSujatha Padmanabhan

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Chuskit Goes to SchoolSujatha Padmanabhan

Hindi TranslationArvind Gupta

Copy EditorRadheshyam Mangolpuri

Illustration(Based on original Illustrations by Madhuvanti Anantharajan)

Jyoti Hiremath

GraphicsAbhay Kumar Jha

CoverGodfrey Das

First EditionOctober 2007

Contributory PriceRs. 15.00

PrintingSun Shine OffsetNew Delhi - 110 018

Publication and DistributionBharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti

Basement of Y.W.A. Hostel No. II, G-Block, Saket , New Delhi - 110017Phone : 011 - 26569943, Fax : 91 - 011 - 26569773

Email : bgvs_delhi@yahoo.co.in, bgvsdelhi@gmail.com

BGVS OCT 2007 2K 1500 NJVA 0044/2007

5ml fnu pqfLdV lqcg tYnh mB xbZA mldsfy, og fnu cgqr [kkl FkkA og bruh [kq'k Fkh fdjkr dks lks Hkh u ldhA mlus vius iyax ds ikldh f[kM+dh ds ckgj mRlqdrk ls >kadkA olar dkekSle Fkk vkSj yk[k esa [kqekuh ds isM+ iQwyksa ls ynsFksA nks eSxikbZ i{kh lqcg ls gh dhM+s idM+us esa yxx, FksA mldh vke&ys (eka) Hkh mB pqdh FkhaA ogfdfpu esa xqj&xqj pk; cuk jgh FkhaA pqfLdV dksmudh vkokt lkiQ lqukbZ ns jgh FkhA

Chuskit woke up early that morning. It was avery special day and she was too excited to sleep.She eagerly looked out of the room through thewindow next to her bed. It was spring time inLadakh and the apricot trees were in full bloom.Two magpies had already begun their day and werebusy looking for insects to eat. Her Ama-ley wasawake too. She could hear her in the kitchen,making gur-gur tea.

6pqfLdV dks mBs ,d ?kaVk gks pqdk FkkA vkt dk fnu mldsfy, ;knxkj fnu FkkA cgqr fnuksa rd og mls ;kn j[ksxhA D;kas\ D;krqEgsa irk gS\

ugha] vkt ykslj R;kSgkj Hkh ugha Fkk ftl fnu lky dk u;kfnu euk;k tkrk gSA ykslj rks dbZ eghuksa ckn vk,xkA

u gh bl fnu xkao ds eafnj esa dksbZ xksaik tSlk fo'ks"k ioZ ;kdksbZ 'kknh&C;kg FkkA

vkt Ldwy esa pqfLdV dk igyk fnu FkkA bl fnu dk ogcslczh ls ukS lky ls bartkj dj jgh FkhA

Chuskit had been awake for the last hour. This was the dayshe was going to remember for a long time. Can you guess why?No, it was not Losar, the New Year festival. That was many monthsaway. Nor was it any special day in her village, like the gonpafestival, or a wedding day. Today was going to be Chuskits firstday at school. At nine years, she had waited a long-long time forthis.

7pqfLdV ds ?kj ls oSls Ldwy cgqr nwj ugha FkkALdwy igqapus ds fy, lcls igys esu jksM ijtkuk gksrk FkkA fiQj iwtk dh ?kafV;ksa dsFkksM+k igys] ck,a gkFk okyh ixMaMhysuh gksrh FkhA ixMaMh dslkFk&lkFk ,d ladjh unhcgrh FkhA

iksiyj ds isM+ksa ds ikl iM+s iRFkjksa ijp

8pqfLdV dk tc tUe gqvkrks mlds iSj lkekU; cPpksatSls ugha FksA mlds firk mlsxkao dh nkbZ (vkeph) dsikl vkSj fiQj ysg esa MkWDVjksads ikl ysdj x,A ijarq cgqrnokb;ka djus ds ckn Hkh pqfLdVpy u ikbZA igys pqfLdV dksvius vkSj vU; cPpksa] [kkldjvius NksVs HkkbZ LVkscMkWu] dschp varj le> eas ugha vk;kAij /hjs&/hjs mlus ik;k fddbZ dke] ftUgsa os vklkuh lsdj ldrs Fks] mlds fy, dkiQheqf'dy FksA

Chuskit was born withlegs that did not work likeeveryone elses. Her fatherhad taken her to the villageAmchi and then to thedoctors in Leh. But no amountof medicine had helped herwalk. At first, Chuskit did notrealize that she was in anyway different from Stobdanher younger brother, or hercousins. But soon there weremany things she could not doas easily as them.

9This does not matter,her Aba-ley would tell herwhenever she fell sad. Youcan stitch better than any oneof them. And you draw verywell. Aba-ley often broughther some colour pencils fromLeh.

tc dHkh pqfLdV mnklgksrh rks mlds firk mldhfgEer c

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gj jkst tc pqfLdV dh eka [kkuk idkrha rc og fdfpu dhf[kM+dh esa cSBdj ckgj ds fp=k cukrhA gj jkst mlds ifjokj dstkuojksa dks ckgj pkjkxkg esa ys tk;k tkrkA mls ckgj >juksa dkfueZy uhyk ikuh fn[kkbZ nsrkA vkSj vxj ?kj esa dksbZ esgeku vkrkrks pqfLdV dks gh lcls igys mldh [kcj yxrh!

Chuskit would sit at the kitchen window everyday and drawwhat she saw while her Ama-ley cooked. She could see her familysanimals being taken to graze every morning. She could see theblue waters of the stream that flowed near by. And she would bethe first one to announce the arrival of a visitor to their house!

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b/j&m/j vkus&tkus ds fy, pqfLdV ifg;ksa okyh dqlhZ dkmi;ksx djrh FkhA cM+s yksx bls ^Oghyps;j* dgrs gSaA vki gkFk lsifg;s ?kqekdj bls fdlh Hkh fn'kk esa pyk ldrs Fks & vkxs] ck,a]nk,a vkSj ihNs HkhA ysfdu [kqn ds Hkkj vkSj Oghyps;j ds otu dks[khapus ds fy, cktqvksa dk rkdroj gksuk t:jh FkkA

tc pqfLdV ds firk Oghyps;j igyh ckj ?kj yk, rks ifjokjds lHkh yksx cgqr mRlkfgr gq,A

Chuskit used a chair fitted with wheels to move around.Elders called it a wheelchair. You could move it in any direction forward, left, right, and even backward by moving the wheelswith your hands. You only needed to have really strong arms topush the weight of your body and the chair.

When Aba-ley first brought the wheelchair home, everyonein her family was very excited.

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vc eq>s pqfLdV dks xksnhysdj ugha ?kweuk iM+sxkA vc eSamls Oghyps;j ij ?kqek ldwaxk]dgrs&dgrs mudh vka[kksa esa [kq'khds vaklw Nyd vk,A vkSj eSavc tgka Hkh pkgwa lSj dj ldwaxh!*pqfLdV [kq'kh ls fpYykbZA

D;k eSa fliQZ ,d ckj rqEgkjhOghyps;j ij lokjh dj ldrkgwa\ LVkscMkWu us Hkh[k ekaxrs gq,dgkA og Hkh Oghyps;j dks pykukpkgrk FkkA mlesa mls cM+k etkvk,xkA

Now I wont have to carryChuskit everywhere, I can wheelher around, said Ama-ley, withtears of happiness in her eyes.And I will be able to go whereverI want! cried Chuskit excitedly.

Please, please, could I rideon your wheelchair once in away? begged Stobdan. Hewanted to wheel it around too. Itlooked like fun.

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eksVh vkSj dkyh fcYyh usekSds dk iQk;nk mBk;k vkSj og>V ls dwndj Oghyps;j dh lhVij ysV xbZA lpeqp ftl cksjsij eSa lksrh gwa mlls ;g Oghyps;jdgha T;knk vkjkensg gS] mlusxqjkZrs gq, dgkA

Billa, the big cat, jumped onto the wheelchair and stretchedacross the seat. Yes, this is farmore comfortable than the sackcloth I slept on, she purred.

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/hjs&/hjs pqfLdV us Oghyps;jdk mi;ksx djuk lh[kkA gj 'kkepqfLdV dh eka ?kj ds ckgj mlsOghyps;j dh lhV ij fcBkrhaAogka ls pqfLdV cPpksa dks Ldwy lsokil vkrs gq, ns[krhA vDlj osxzqi esa galrs&f[kyf[kykrs gq, vkrsA

Slowly, Chuskit learnt to useher wheelchair. She would ask hermother to seat her in thewheelchair outside her homeevery evening. From here shewould watch children returningfrom school, chattering andlaughing merrily in groups.

15

fiQj dqN nsj ckn 'kke dhcl ysg ls okil vkrhA yksxcktkj&gkV djds mlesa okil vkrsApqfLdV dks fdfpu dh f[kM+dhdh rqyuk esa ;gka cgqr T;knk etkvkrk!

In a while, the evening buswould return from Leh, bringingback people from work and themarket place. How much moreexciting the world was from herethan from the kitchen window!

16

,d 'kke tc pqfLdV viusnknkth ds lkFk ?kj ds ckgj cSBhFkh] rHkh ,d NksVk yM+dk mldsikl vk;kA mlus pqfLdV ds nknkthdks ,d i=k fn;kA ueLrs (tqyS)!Mkboj us eq>s bl fp h dks vkidksnsus ds fy, dgk gS] mlus dgkA

esjk uke vCnqy gS] mluspqfLdV dh vksj ns[krs gq, dgkAeSa xouZesaV Ldwy esa NBh d{kkesa i

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ueLrs] vCnqy]pqfLdV us tokc fn;kAeSa dHkh Ldwy xbZ ghughaA Ldwy tkus dk jkLrkbruk mQcM+&[kkcM+ gS fdml ij esjh Oghyps;jt:j iQal tk,xhA vkSjfiQj eSa Ldwy ds lkeusokyh NksVh unh dks Hkhikj ugha dj ldrhA eq>sjkstkuk Ldwy ys tkukvkSj ykuk] esjs ekrk&firkds fy, laHko ugha gksxkA

Julley Abdul,said Chuskit. I havenever been to school.The path to the schoolis too uneven andpebbly and mywheelchair will getstuck. Besides, Icannot cross the littlestream in front of theschool. It would bedifficult for my parentsto carry me to schooland back everyday.

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ij D;k rqe Ldwy tkukpkgksxh\ vCnqy us iwNkA

fcYdqy! pqfLdV us rikdls tokc fn;kA esjk HkkbZ eq>sLdwy dh lkjh dgkfu;ka lqukrk gSAeSa Hkh vU; cPpksa tSls gh is cgqr etk vkrkgSA rqe 'kk;n esjh ckr ij ;dhuu djks] ij eq>s dbZ ckj liukvkrk gS fd eSa vius cLrs ds lkFkLdwy esa gwa vkSj fVfiQu [kk jghgwaA

But would you like to cometo school? asked Abdul.

Of course! replied Chuskit.I hear my younger brother talkof all that he does at school. Iwant to study like all of you, makefriends, play games, wear auniform, and even write exams.Sometimes my brother teachesme songs that he has learnt atschool, and I love it. You may notbelieve this, but I sometimesdream of carrying a school bag,even eating packed lunch

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cgqr gk s x;k]pqfLdV ds nknkth us mlsle>krs gq, dgkA ,slsgokbZ lius ns[kuk can djksArqEgsa vPNh rjg irk gSfd rqe dHkh Ldwy ughatk ikvksxhA eSaus rqEgsa ;gckr dbZ ckj crkbZ gSA rqe?kj esa jgdj ftruk pkgks]lh[kksA

Enough! Enough!interrupted her grand-father. Stop dreaming,Chuskit. You know youcannot go to school. Ihave told you this manytimes. Learn as much asyou can at home.

20

n kn kt h ] i kdjds] pqfLdV us nknkthls fourh dhA mldh vka[kksaes a vkalw Hkj vk,A ijnknkth xqLls esa ogka lspys x,A eSa tks eglwldj jgh gwa mls nknkthle> ugha ik jgs gSa]pqfLdV us dgkA

eq>s og fnu ;kngS tc esjs HkkbZ us xoZ dslkFk igkM+s lquk, vkSj ogle; Hkh tc mlus igyhc k j i< + u k l h[ k k !

Meme-ley, please,pleaded Chuskit softlywith tears in her eyes asher grandfather walkedaway angrily.

Meme-ley does notunderstand how I feel,said Chuskit.

I remember theday my brother recitedhis tables with suchpride, even the time helearned to read!

21

esjs ekrk&firk Hkh cgqr[kq'k gq,] D;ksafd mUgsa [kqndHkh Ldwy tkus dk ekSdkugha feyk FkkA eSa is\

gka] vCnqy us dgk]pqfLdV] eSa rqels feyusnqckjk vkmaQxkA vc eq>stkuk gSA esjh eka esjk bartkjdj jgh gksaxhA ueLrs!

My parents were veryhappy as they have neverbeen to school. I toowant to learn to read anddo math. Do youunderstand?

I do, said Abdul.Chuskit, I will see youagain. I must go now. Mymother will be waiting forme. Julley!

22

vxys fnu lqcg dh izkFkZuk ds ckn vCnqy lh/k gsMekLVj dsdejs esa x;kA ueLrs] gsMekLVj lkgc] mlus dgkA eSa viusxkao dh ,d yM+dh ds ckjs esa vkils dqN ckr djuk pkgrk gwaA ogyM+dh Ldwy ugha tkrh gSA mldk uke pqfLdV gSA og LVkscMkWu dhcgu gSA

gka] Bhd gS] gsMekLVj us tokc esa dgk] eSa mls tkurk gwaAog py&fiQj ugha ldrh gS] D;ksa Bhd gS\

th ljA og ?kj esa b/j&m/j ?kweus ds fy, Oghyps;jdk iz;ksx djrh gS] ijarq ogLdwy ugha vk ldrh gS] D;ksafdmlds ?kj ls Ldwy rd dkjkLrk dkiQh mQcM+&[kkcM+ gSAD;k ge fdlh rjhds ls mldhdqN enn dj ldrs gSa lj\

The next day, Abdul wentstraight to the Headmastersroom after assembly. Julley,Azhang-ley! he said. I want totalk to you about a girl from ourvillage who does not go to school.Her name is Chuskit. She isStobdans sister.

Oh yes, replied theHeadmaster. I know her. She isdisabled, isnt she?

Yes, Azhang-ley. She usesa wheelchair to move around but

cannot reach school, as the path from her home is too rough anduneven. I was wondering if we could do anything to help her,Azhang-ley. We could all get together and level the path and alsobuild a small bridge across the stream.

23

Thats very thoughtfulof you, Abdul, said theHeadmaster as he patted himon the back. What made youthink of Chuskit and herproblems?

Azhang-ley, last weekwe read about thefundamental rights of citizensin our civics class. All childrenhave a Right to Education.That includes Chuskit as well,does it not?

ge lc yksx feydj jkLrs dks lery dj ldrs gSa vkSj ladjh unhds mQij ,d NksVk&lk etcwr iqy cuk ldrs gSaA

rqeus cgqr le>nkjh&Hkjh ckr lksph] vCnqy] gsMekLVj usdgk vkSj fiQj mUgksaus vCnqydh ihB FkiFkikbZA rqeus pqfLdVvkSj mldh leL;k ds ckjs esadSls lkspk\

lj] fiNys grs geuslkekftd v;;u dh Dyklesa ukxfjdksa ds cqfu;knh gdksads ckjs esa i

24

vxys fnu gsMekLVj us lkjs f'k{kdksa dh ehVx cqykbZA mUgksauslcdks vCnqy dh ckr crkbZ vkSj f'k{kdksa dh jk; tkuuh pkghA

vlaHko] ,d f'k{kd us rikd ls dgkAge Ldwy esa fdlh viax cPph dks dSls nkf[ky

dj ldrs gSa\ og vU; cPpksa dh rjgdSls fy[k vkSj [ksy ik,xh\ og dSls'kkSpky; tk ik,xh\

blh leL;k dks rks gesa lqy>kukgS] gsMekLVj us dgkA eSaus lquk gS fdesaVkWd&;qy xkao dh f'k{kk lfefr us ogka dsviax cPpksa ds fy, Ldwy esa ,d fo'ks"k 'kkSpky; cuk;kgSA ge mlds ckjs esa vkSj vf/d tkudkjh gkfly djldrs gSaA ij mlls igys gesa pqfLdV dks Ldwy esa ykukgksxkA og Ldwy esa D;k i

25

nks grs ckn ljdkjh Ldwyesa dkiQh pgy&igy utj vkbZAlkjs cPps ckgj [ksy ds eSnku esatek gq,A vkt og Ldwy esa viukcLrk ugha yk, FksA vkt dksbZ i

26

f'k{kdksa us cPpksa dks vyx&vyx Vksfy;ksa esa ckaVkA ,d VksyhpqfLdV ds ?kj ds lkeus dke dj jgh Fkh vkSj nwljh unh ds fdukjsokyh ixMaMh ijA cM+s cPpksa dh ,d Vksyh unh ds mQij ydM+hdk ,d etcwr iqy cukus esa f'k{kdksa dh enn dj jgh FkhA

The teachers divided the children into groups. One groupworked in front of Chuskits house and another on the path downthe stream. A third group with some of the older children workedhard to help some of their teachers build a strong wooden bridgeacross the stream.

27

iRFkj vkSj jksM+s mBkrs gq, cPps xkus xk jgs Fks vkSj f[kyf[kykdj gal jgs FksA os ixMaMh dks lery cuk jgs Fks vkSj unh dh vksjydM+h ds r[rs ys tk jgs FksA

gsMekLVj ,d Vksyh ds ckn nwljh Vksyh dkeqvk;uk dj jgs FksA gj dke Bhd&Bkd gksos bl ckr dk cankscLr dj jgs FksA

The children laughed and sang as theyremoved stones and rocks, leveled the paths,and carried wooden planks to the stream.

The Headmaster went from one group toanother, making sure that all went according toplan.

28

pqfLdV ds ekrk&firk us lcdks xjek&xjepk; vkSj fcfLdV fn,A pqfLdV ds nknkth unhfdukjs yxs etuw ds isM+ ds uhps cSBdj dke djrscPpksa dk utkjk ns[k jgs FksA eSaus lius esa Hkh ughalkspk Fkk fd dHkh eSa ,slk 'kqHk fnu ns[kwaxk! mUgksauslkspk vkSj rHkh mudh vka[k ls vkalw yq

29

At the end of the day it was a tiredbut happy group of children that returnedto their homes. The path from Chuskitshome to the school was now ready!

fnu Hkj dM+h esgur djus ds cknFkds&ekans ijarq [kq'k cPps vius&vius ?kjksadks ykSVsA vc pqfLdV ds ?kj ls Ldwy rddk jkLrk cudj rS;kj gks pqdk FkkA

30

pqfLdV vius thou esa igyh ckj Ldwytk jgh FkhA blhfy, og csgn [kq'k Fkh vkSjmldk eu meaxksa ls >we jgk FkkA

Chuskit was going to school for thefirst time in her life. And thats why she wasso excited!

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