Studying Engineers
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Prem Bahadur Gandharba was born in a remote area of midwestern Nepal into the lowest subcaste of the Untouchable Dalit caste, the Gandharba singers and beggers. His 7 siblings all work as laborers, yet he is studying to be an engineer in Kathmandu. His life began like many other untouchables in Nepal: he was sent to work as a servant in a wealthy home. Yet after two years of service, he was able to leave and start his education in a free government school. He started primary school at the late age of 9, but his intelligence quickly caught him up. Despite still begging with his parents when not in school, Prem always received first position in class, and he was awarded a scholarship from an organization called The Children of Nepal. On his SLC (secondary school leaving certificate) exam, he received First Division and was the top student in his district. Despite his remarkable school performance, Prem still probably would have gone to work as a laborer in India after his SLC exam, if FNC had not begun to support him. We sponsored Prem to start studying in Kathmandu, first in his higher secondary education and then in his college for engineering. He is the first person to become an engineer from his community, and after he completes his course, he wishes to help the other impoverished students from his community to fulfill their dreams.
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Bharat Nepali belongs to the Dalit untouchable community, from the Badi subcaste, where traditionally females are prostitutes and males prepare the drums or fish in the river. In his community there is no way to study. Yet luckily, in Bharat’s village, there was a teacher who urged Bharat’s parents to send their children to school. Bharat’s older brother and sister studied up to grade 10 in a free government school, but after class 10 they couldn’t afford to continue. Luckily, Bharat got a scholarship in grade 8 to study in a private boarding school, where there was an all-english environment. This initially caused Bharat problems, but he used to read about 12-16 hours per day to improve his english and his headmaster guided him in private tuition. Bharat received first position in his class and received a 74% on his SLC exam (first division). On the exam, he marked that he needed a scholarship for his future studies, and so his village referred Bharat to FNC. We sponsored Bharat to do his higher secondary level in science in Kathmandu, and after grade 12, he started in engineering college. He chose to study engineering not only because it is a secure way for him to have a successful future, but also so that he can help the development of his country and society. Bharat still sometimes feels inferior because of his low caste, but he knows that this isn’t true and that castes only exist from ignorance. He says that education is the only way his caste can improve their status, and so he thanks FNC for helping him to have an education and a bright future.