“Even when my daughter was hospitalised, I continued to teach”

You know how life in a small village could be. We had no facilities in my village Ramgarh. 

I was the only girl child among three boys. I remember helping my mother gather firewood, keep the fire burning to cook food and do chores.

When I was 15, my mother told my father to stop my education. Her argument was that the more I studied, the more dowry would be needed for my marriage.

He said, “Laxmi’s good at studies. She can study as much as she wants. I won’t stop her and I won’t marry her off early.”

I think my father – who’s a farmer by the way – understood my love for learning and also my love for teaching children.

You see, even when I was in school, I started teaching pre-primary children. This was in 1981 and I’d get an honorarium of Rs 175 per month.

My school was in a village 10 km away. My father would give me two rupees every day for the two-way bus fare.

But I’d walk for over an hour each way through treacherous hills, crossing a river and a valley.  Once I even encountered a bear. I did this to save my bus fare so I could buy goodies for my young students. 

I got married when I was 22. At that time I had passed twelfth standard and had just filled the application form for my graduate course.

I decided to stay back in my village with my parents to complete my education. It was very unusual for a married woman to do so. Especially in a village.

The challenges didn’t deter me. I finished my graduation and then post-graduation while working simultaneously.

My husband was living and working in Mumbai then. I would visit him whenever I could.

After my two children were born, I was determined they get a good education. So I decided to move permanently to Mumbai. I even declined a lucrative permanent job in my village.

In Mumbai I started teaching children of construction workers, domestic helps, etc., to help them join mainstream education. 

I have taught more than 7,500 such children so far. Every child is like my own.

In 2008 my 16-year-old daughter succumbed to a freak fire accident. Even when she was in the hospital, I continued to teach. 

Today her friends visit me, talk about their job and marriage. But no one talks about my daughter. I see my daughter in them and in every child I teach.

After all these years, my daily routine has not changed. I wake up at 4.30 am, finish chores and by 9 am, I’m ready to teach. 

I live in a slum where safety and cleanliness are a big concern. Eve-teasing is rampant. 

Since I began teaching, I’ve been facing resistance from lumpen elements in the locality. I face new challenges every day. But that doesn’t stop me from what I was born to do… teach!