The Open-Air Classroom: A Three-Decade Mission to Educate the Underprivileged in Itahari

Dharan. Plastic mats and sacks spread under the shade of a Pipal tree. A board propped against the tree reads: 'Shree Pipalbote Open School.'

Every morning at 7:00 AM, 30 to 35 children from nursery to grade 7 arrive with their books, notebooks, and pens for tuition. Chandra Sir, or Chandra Bhandari, assists these children with their studies. He explains lessons they did not understand in school and facilitates their homework. This scene unfolds in an alley near the banks of the Tengra River in Itahari, located along the busy East-West Highway.

It has been over three decades since this open-air learning center began. It is named 'Pipalbote Open School' because learning activities have been continuously conducted under the Pipal tree. However, this is not a registered formal school or educational center; it is an educational campaign sustained by Bhandari's personal initiative, indomitable willpower, and dedication. Because of his contribution in providing free education to children from impoverished, poor, and marginalized communities, everyone in the neighborhood calls him 'Chandra Sir.'

Service Taught by Struggle

Born in 2022 BS in Kagate-6, Dhankuta, to father Shrikant Bhandari and mother Manmaya Bhandari, Chandra Bhandari is the youngest of four children. Growing up in an ordinary family, he faced scarcity and struggle in his childhood. In 2044 BS, he moved to Itahari with Rs 50 given by his mother in search of a livelihood.

In Itahari, he started working in a garage with relatives. Later, he partnered with a friend to trade in fabric at the Hatiya market, but the business closed within six months. After failing in the textile trade, he turned to the bamboo business. Starting in 2051 BS near the Tengra River, he bought bamboo from Panmara in Dharan, Kerabari in Morang, and Dhankuta for Rs 20 to 23 and sold them for Rs 25, making a profit of two rupees. He expanded his business by purchasing bamboo and selling it in various places in Sunsari, including Shanti Jhoda, Tarahara, and Itahari.

During this time, he saw school-aged children playing in the dust around piles of bamboo. "Their parents hardly had the awareness that their children needed to be educated," he recalls. "I was reminded of my own childhood, where poverty and scarcity forced me to leave my studies incomplete." He then decided to gather the children and teach them. Initially, he started by gathering 10 children and providing free tuition for two to three hours in the morning and evening. "I thought that once I taught the children to recognize letters, the path to school would surely open. This bamboo business showed me the greatest purpose of my life, and the children's pain gave birth to this open school," says Chandra.

A Beacon for Impoverished Families

Chandra's effort gradually expanded. As word spread in the local community, the number of students increased. Previously, there was a small hut-like structure on the riverbank where arrangements were made to teach the children. 40 to 50 children used to come to study in the morning and evening. But after the hut collapsed in 2060 BS, he has been teaching under the open sky. Bhandari recalls, "Even though the hut collapsed, the children had a desire to learn; they started bringing sacks from home to spread on the ground. There were no facilities, but the desire to learn was evident," he says.

Whether it is the floods of the monsoon or the dry drought of winter, the muddy water of the Tengra River, or the floods in the rainy season, Chandra Bhandari's tuition has never stopped. No obstacle has stopped him, nor has he ever felt lazy.

He did not stop teaching the children. Even during the nationwide lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, he did not give up and conducted online classes from home. After COVID-19, the number of students decreased. Chandra says he now teaches 30 to 35 children regularly.

For children from impoverished families, this has become a center for learning opportunities beyond school education. Most of the children who come here are children of laborers who roast and sell corn, sell peanuts, polish shoes, or pull rickshaws. Some children from middle and upper-class families also study here.

Bhandari is not limited to just teaching tuition. On his birthday, he gifts notebooks, pens, and books to the children who come to study. Some helping hands also arrive with educational materials and clothing. Beyond learning, these gifts and support boost the children's morale. Bhandari says, "The lack of an organized place to teach children is felt. It would be even better if I could teach them in an organized place that protects them from the sun and rain."

Recognition of Service

Appreciating Chandra Bhandari's spontaneous spirit of service, thousands of organizations have honored him. The 'Padne Ghar' organization in Damak, Jhapa, honored him for the first time in 2071 BS. Since then, he has received dozens of honors and awards from various organizations, schools, and colleges. In recognition of his long-term service, Bhandari was awarded the prestigious 'USA-Nepal Humanitarian Service Award 2017.'

In recognition of his contribution through free tuition aimed at children from underprivileged classes, Bhandari was honored on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Sacred Heart English School in Itahari in 2072 BS. Similarly, the Human Rights and Peace Society has honored him with a cash prize. Janata Multiple Campus, Itahari, has also presented him with a certificate of appreciation, considering his work exemplary. In 2081 BS, he was honored with the 'Koshi Excellence Award,' which is presented on the anniversary of Pradesh Khabar Dot Com, operated by the Nayan Media Foundation, considered the largest in Koshi Province. Similarly, Kasturi Academy Itahari presented him with a certificate of appreciation on its 18th anniversary.

For Bhandari, these honors are not just words written on paper; they are the society's trust and love for him, which inspires him to move forward. Bhandari says, "Doing my duty is my responsibility; I do not hope for the fruits. I have not seen any other noble work in my life that I should do. Thousands of organizations have honored me so far."

"Those honors have made me realize my responsibility even more. As long as I can and my health permits, I will continue the work of teaching and educating children." For him, providing free education is not a profession but a purpose in life and a source of self-satisfaction. This selfless feeling has kept him standing in this same place for more than three decades.

Bhandari says, "I spent more than three decades like this through ups and downs. I am happy, and the children who come to study are also happy." This happiness inspires him to stand under the shade of the Pipal tree every day. Bhandari is known as a carrier of educational and social awareness. Some of the students he taught have reached America for higher education and employment, while others are involved in various professions and businesses in Nepal.

Support from Wife and Sons

Bhandari, who only completed his SLC, could not study as much as he wanted, but he is fulfilling his desire by creating an environment for his wife Savitri and his sons to study. The age of Chandra Bhandari's open school and his married life with his wife Savitri is the same. Even though he could not pursue higher education, Chandra inspired and encouraged his wife to study. Savitri, who had only passed SLC at the time of their marriage, continued her studies after marriage and completed her Master's degree. With her higher education, she now teaches at a private school in Itahari. The family's livelihood is supported by that income. Chandra and Savitri's sons, Uttam and Utsav, are currently studying for their Master's degrees.