What if your ability to learn, grow, and connect with the world was limited simply by where you were born? This was the reality for Tashi, a young boy from the breathtaking yet remote town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Home to the second-largest monastery in Asia, Tawang is known for its serene beauty—but beneath its picturesque landscape lies a struggle for connectivity and access to opportunities.
Tashi’s journey is one of resilience, loss, and an unwavering commitment to digital transformation. His story is a testament to how challenges can be turned into stepping stones for meaningful change.
A Childhood Marked by Love and Loss
Tashi’s earliest memories are filled with the warmth of his father’s love. Every day, his father carried him on his back to school, weaving new stories along the way. These moments of closeness became the foundation of his childhood. However, life took an unexpected turn when he lost his father while still in the second grade. With this loss came new hardships, including the inability to continue at his private school. But fate had a new chapter waiting for him—one that led him to Manjushree Vidyapith, where he found not only an education but a nurturing community that felt like home.
The Manjushree Experience: More Than Just Academics
Manjushree Vidyapith was more than just a school; it was a sanctuary that instilled values of kindness, resilience, and gratitude in its students. Many of the children there came from similar backgrounds, creating an unspoken understanding and support system among them. Every morning, students engaged in prayers, meditation, and gratitude practices—rituals that nurtured emotional well-being and provided a sense of stability. In today’s fast-paced, anxiety-ridden world, these early teachings remain invaluable, shaping students into compassionate and grounded individuals.
A Life-Changing Encounter with the Internet
Tashi’s first encounter with the internet in 2009, when he was in grade six, was a moment of collective wonder. Before then, students had only read about it in books, never truly grasping its potential. When they finally accessed it, curiosity turned into awe. The internet became an instant gateway to the world beyond Tawang. It revolutionized the way they communicated with donors and well-wishers. Until then, they had relied on letters that took weeks to reach their destinations. With the internet, they could finally share their thoughts and gratitude in real time, breaking down the barriers of remoteness.
The Digital Divide in Tawang
However, while the internet brought newfound possibilities, it also highlighted the stark digital divide in Tawang. The region’s geographical isolation meant that connectivity remained inconsistent, making access to digital resources a privilege rather than a norm. This challenge became even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when education and work moved online. Many students and professionals struggled to stay connected, with some having to walk miles just to charge their phones or find a stable network. Others were completely cut off, missing out on vital opportunities.
Bridging the Gap: Tashi’s Mission
Determined to change this reality, Tashi embarked on a mission to bring reliable digital connectivity to Tawang. Alongside his team, he implemented innovative solutions like solar-powered internet setups to ensure stable connections in the most remote corners. The task was not easy—difficult terrain, lack of infrastructure, and erratic power supply made the work even more challenging. Yet, with persistence, they found ways to overcome these hurdles. Each milestone achieved was not just a technical victory but a transformative moment for the community. Improved connectivity meant better education, smoother business operations, and a stronger local economy.
Tourists, who once hesitated to stay longer due to connectivity issues, now found it easier to remain, providing a boost to local businesses. More importantly, students no longer had to walk miles just to attend online classes or complete assignments. The impact of this work has been deeply rewarding, reaffirming Tashi’s belief that technology can be a bridge to equal opportunities.
A Message for Future Generations
Tashi believes that curiosity is the key to lifelong learning. He encourages students, especially those from Manjushree Vidyapith, to ask questions and seek knowledge beyond textbooks. In an era where time moves fast, he emphasizes the importance of learning new skills beyond academics. The internet, when used wisely, can be a powerful tool for growth and success. Most importantly, he urges young minds never to shy away from dreaming big, regardless of their background.
His journey from a young boy in Tawang to a digital changemaker serves as an inspiration to many. It is proof that no matter how remote a place may be, with determination, innovation, and a spirit of service, it can be connected to the world. Tashi’s work continues to inspire, reminding us all that even the most challenging terrains can become pathways to progress.
Imagine standing amidst the breathtaking serenity of the Himalayas—snow-capped peaks glistening in the sun, the crisp mountain air invigorating your spirit. Now, imagine this serenity marred by something entirely unnatural: discarded plastic bottles, wrappers, and waste, scattered across the pristine landscape. This is the stark reality in many mountainous regions today. But at Jhamtse Gatsal, a community and school nestled in the remote Himalayan village of Lumla, Arunachal Pradesh, something remarkable is taking shape.
A Vision Beyond Education
Jhamtse Gatsal, which means “Garden of Compassion” in Tibetan, is more than just a school—it is a thriving community built on the pillars of love, compassion, and sustainability. While the school provides its students with a robust academic foundation, it goes beyond conventional education by instilling a deep respect for the environment. In this idyllic yet vulnerable setting, the community faces a modern menace: plastic waste. The lack of proper waste disposal systems in the region has exacerbated the issue, making innovation and action not just desirable but necessary.
From Problem to Opportunity: Tackling Plastic Waste
The journey began with a simple yet profound question: What if the waste we produce could be repurposed into something valuable? The community at Jhamtse Gatsal embraced this challenge, transforming it into an opportunity to educate, innovate, and inspire. They established a plastic recycling initiative that integrates environmental consciousness into the daily lives of students and staff.
The initiative collects plastic waste from the school, surrounding villages, and even nearby government schools, where students are encouraged to gather plastic and bring it to Jhamtse Gatsal for recycling. This collaborative effort not only addresses the waste issue but also spreads awareness about the importance of recycling in preserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The Art of Repurposing: Creativity Meets Sustainability
What happens to the collected plastic? This is where Jhamtse Gatsal’s ingenuity shines. Under the guidance of dedicated mentors, students learn to transform plastic waste into usable and creative products. Old plastic bottles are turned into plant holders, wrappers become woven mats, and other discarded materials find new life as decorative or practical items.
For instance, students craft bricks from compressed plastic waste, which are then used in construction projects. These bricks are durable, cost-effective, and a testament to the potential of turning trash into treasure. By engaging students in this hands-on process, the school teaches them that even the smallest efforts can contribute to solving big problems.
Ripple Effects: A Community Transformed
The impact of Jhamtse Gatsal’s recycling practices extends far beyond the boundaries of its campus. Surrounding communities are increasingly inspired to adopt similar practices, reducing their reliance on single-use plastics and rethinking waste management. Government school children who once disposed of plastic waste indiscriminately now actively participate in collecting and repurposing it.
The students at Jhamtse Gatsal emerge not just as environmentally conscious individuals but as change-makers who carry the message of sustainability wherever they go. The initiative has become a blueprint for how education, community action, and environmental stewardship can coexist harmoniously.
A Lesson for the World
Jhamtse Gatsal’s efforts underscore a powerful lesson: environmental challenges, no matter how daunting, can be met with creativity, collaboration, and compassion. In turning waste into worth, this Himalayan community has shown that solutions to even the most pressing problems can emerge when people work together with purpose.
As we marvel at their success, let’s ask ourselves: What can we learn from Jhamtse Gatsal’s example? How can we, in our own lives, turn waste into worth and make the world a cleaner, greener place?
The answer, as Jhamtse Gatsal teaches us, lies in the transformative power of small, consistent actions. With a little innovation and a lot of heart, we can all become stewards of our planet.
On a crisp morning in Turtuk, a village perched at the edge of India, we stumbled upon a group of children laughing by a brook. They were splashing water, their faces alight with mischief, as if untouched by the challenges of their remote home. Their laughter was infectious, but beneath it lay a story of challenges, perseverance, and dreams tethered to an unsteady educational foundation.
When we asked these young learners about school, their answers were candid and thought-provoking. One common thread emerged: consistency.
The Struggle for Stability
Turtuk’s schools rely heavily on volunteer teachers, which brings passion and diversity but also creates a significant hurdle—frequent teacher turnover. As educators come and go, students must adapt to new teaching styles, often within the same academic year. It’s like resetting their learning journey repeatedly, leaving gaps in their understanding and stability.
For these children, textbooks in Hindi—a language they’re still mastering—pose an additional challenge. With limited access to resources, the classroom often becomes the only place they can attempt to make sense of unfamiliar words and concepts. But what happens when they don’t understand something during the lesson? Who do they turn to when the teacher is no longer around?
A Bridge Called the Internet
In our conversation, their wish was simple yet profound: access to the internet. They didn’t dream of games or entertainment; they dreamed of learning. They saw the internet as a tool to revisit lessons, seek explanations in Hindi, and build a solid foundation for their studies.
“If we had the internet,” one child said shyly, “we could find videos that explain our lessons better. If we don’t understand what the teacher says, we can learn it again.”
For them, the internet represents consistency in a world of constant change. It’s a bridge to revisit forgotten lessons, a tutor to clarify confusion, and a mentor that doesn’t leave. With online access, they could learn at their own pace, returning to concepts until they feel confident.
Education Beyond Borders
Turtuk’s story is a reminder of the power of connectivity. For these children, the internet isn’t just a tool—it’s a lifeline to stable, consistent education. It’s a way to overcome the barriers of language and geography. It’s an opportunity to dream beyond the confines of a remote village.
Imagine a world where a child in Turtuk, after struggling to understand a chapter in a Hindi textbook, could watch an engaging video that breaks it down step by step. Imagine a teacher thousands of miles away inspiring a love for science in a classroom they’ve never set foot in. Imagine the collective dreams of Turtuk’s children taking flight, powered by the endless possibilities of online learning.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Turtuk’s children showed us something we often forget: the internet isn’t just about convenience—it’s about equity. Their desire for connectivity isn’t driven by frivolity but by a hunger to learn, to grow, and to keep pace with the rest of the world.
As we walked away from the brook that day, the kids waved, their laughter echoing in the mountain air. But their voices stayed with us, a poignant reminder of why we do what we do. Bridging the digital divide isn’t just about technology; it’s about giving children like those in Turtuk a fair chance to rewrite their futures.
Let’s work to make their dreams a reality. One connection at a time
“Can a remote school in the Himalayas, tucked away from modern conveniences, truly connect with the world?”
This question lingered as we received an email from Manjushree Vidyapith, a humble yet transformative school in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. Their challenge? Stable internet connectivity—a hurdle that restricted their operations, including maintaining contact with international donors who sustain much of their work.
Manjushree Vidyapith, a sanctuary for orphans, destitute, and physically challenged children, stands as a beacon of hope in one of India’s most remote regions. For over 25 years, the school has nurtured its students’ spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social growth. Despite limited resources, they’ve empowered children to become contributing members of society. Yet, their efforts were stymied by the absence of reliable internet, a necessity in today’s interconnected world.
Tawang, a remote district perched at over 10,000 feet, faces significant educational challenges. According to reports, Arunachal Pradesh has a literacy rate of 65.38%, well below the national average of 77.7%. Factors like difficult terrain, lack of infrastructure, and limited resources mean that many children in Tawang and similar regions have restricted access to quality education. The situation worsens when digital learning—now an integral part of modern education—remains out of reach for most schools.
The Journey to Connection
Our journey began in November 2020, traveling over 2,500 kilometers from Maharashtra to Tawang. The roads twisted through towering cliffs and icy passes, every turn emphasizing the isolation of this region. Upon reaching Manjushree, the scale of the challenge became clear.
The school, surrounded by the rugged Himalayas, had no mobile network, let alone internet connectivity. Even conducting our feasibility survey—a task requiring basic connectivity—proved difficult. We set up temporary shop in a small café in the town center, the only place with a faint internet signal.
Hours of work followed, testing, recalculating, and reimagining how to bring stable connectivity to the school. The task was daunting. In regions like these, conventional solutions like satellite internet are fraught with issues—frequent cloud cover disrupts signals, speeds are inconsistent, and maintenance is nearly impossible without local support teams.
Our plan was ambitious but grounded: a wireless network leveraging a fiber-optic-connected tower nearby. But wireless technology in such terrain comes with its own hurdles—it requires a clear line of sight between connection points. Identifying these points amidst snow-covered peaks and dense forests was like finding needles in a haystack.
Yet, after meticulous planning and countless cups of tea, we identified a potential link: a mountain peak offering a direct line of sight to the school. It was a small victory on a journey filled with uncertainty.
Making the Impossible Possible
Five months later, we returned with equipment in hand and hope in our hearts. Setting up the infrastructure tested every ounce of our determination. Hiking through steep trails, battling freezing temperatures, and troubleshooting technical challenges in real time—each step was a reminder of the sheer remoteness of Manjushree.
But finally, the connection came to life. The first test email sent from the school was a milestone that reverberated far beyond the walls of Manjushree Vidyapith.
The Transformative Impact
Connectivity has redefined what is possible for the Manjushree community:
Revolutionizing Education Students now have access to online educational tools, virtual classrooms, and resources that were previously beyond their reach. Concepts like coding, virtual experiments, and global collaborations have entered their curriculum, opening doors to opportunities that seemed unimaginable just a year ago.
Strengthening Donor Relations With stable internet, the school can communicate seamlessly with its international donors, ensuring continued financial and operational support. The transparency and ease of communication have strengthened these relationships, securing the school’s future.
Empowering Teachers and Administration Teachers now utilize digital teaching aids, enriching the learning experience. Administrative tasks, from student records to resource management, have become more efficient, allowing the staff to focus more on their mission.
Building Global Connections The internet has brought the world to Manjushree. Students watch documentaries, participate in global conversations, and dream bigger dreams. It’s not just connectivity; it’s a lifeline to hope and inspiration.
Beyond Technology: A Lesson in Humanity
This project wasn’t just about installing equipment; it was about bridging gaps—technological, geographical, and societal. Manjushree taught us that the challenges of remote connectivity are not just logistical but deeply human.
The school’s spirit of compassion and resilience left an indelible mark on us. Their dedication to nurturing children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, despite limited resources, exemplifies the kind of determination that moves mountains—sometimes literally.
In turn, we were reminded of the profound responsibility we carry in our work. Internet connectivity is not a luxury; it is a fundamental enabler of equality and opportunity.
A Brighter Future
Today, Manjushree Vidyapith stands as a shining example of what’s possible when technology meets purpose. The school’s journey from isolation to integration is a testament to the power of collective effort and the transformative potential of connectivity.
As we reflect on this project, we’re not just proud of the technical success but deeply grateful for the human connections it fostered. The internet at Manjushree isn’t just a tool; it’s a bridge to a brighter, more inclusive future for every child who calls this school home.
The story of Manjushree Vidyapith is a reminder: No place is too remote, and no challenge is insurmountable when driven by the belief that every child deserves a chance to dream, connect, and thrive.
“How do you dream big when you’re left behind in the race?”
This question lingers in the minds of schoolgirls like Tasneem and Sana, who live in the remote village of Turtuk, Ladakh. While their peers in cities access the world through the internet, these girls are tethered to outdated textbooks and limited classroom resources. Their dreams—becoming doctors, engineers, or teachers—are vivid, but the path to realizing them feels like navigating an uphill trail without a map.
Turtuk’s Unique Struggle
Turtuk, a village steeped in history and stunning landscapes, has a story of resilience. When Ladakh became independent and borders shifted, the region was left isolated in more ways than one. For its children, education became a slow and uneven journey.
Girls like Tasneem and Sana face a double burden: the challenge of limited resources and the added pressure of societal norms that sometimes undervalue their ambitions. With outdated textbooks and a lack of teachers for advanced subjects, they often find themselves struggling to keep up.
The Missing Link: The Internet
In a connected world, the internet could change everything for these girls. It’s not just about streaming videos or joining virtual classes—it’s about leveling the playing field.
Access to Current Knowledge: Reliable internet could provide up-to-date resources, giving these students the tools to understand and explore complex topics.
Personalized Learning: Online platforms could fill gaps left by the absence of specialized teachers, enabling girls to tackle subjects like physics or biology with confidence.
Global Perspectives: By connecting with peers and mentors worldwide, girls in Turtuk could feel part of a larger story—one that doesn’t leave their aspirations out of the picture.
Barriers in the Way
But dreams don’t come easy in Turtuk. Harsh winters, challenging terrain, and a lack of infrastructure make reliable internet a distant hope. Even where there is some connectivity, it’s often unstable and inaccessible for most families.
The Future They Deserve
Imagine a classroom in Turtuk where learning isn’t confined to faded textbooks. Picture Tasneem watching a science experiment online and finally understanding the concepts she’s struggled with. Envision Sana confidently preparing for competitive exams, armed with resources that were once beyond her reach.
For Turtuk’s schoolgirls, the internet isn’t a luxury—it’s a beacon of possibility. It’s their ticket to keeping pace with a fast-changing world, to dreaming big without feeling left behind.
So, how do you dream big when you’re left behind in the race? You connect the unconnected and give them the tools to run alongside the rest of the world. For Turtuk, this connection could rewrite futures—one child, one school, one household at a time.
