Summary
Highlights
The video introduces the extraordinary daily journey of children in Nepal who face extreme conditions to attend school. It highlights the challenging terrain, including mountains and dangerous rivers, emphasizing that education is their key to a better future.
Six-year-old Ajit wakes up early to help his father, Hari, with farm work before heading to school. His father, who never attended school, understands the importance of education for Ajit's future. Ajit dreams of becoming a pilot and exploring the world beyond his village.
The narrative shifts to four-year-old Kabita and her mother Nirmala, who sends her to school despite the long, six-kilometer walk, believing it's crucial for her future prospects. We also meet Ambika's children, seven-year-old Asmita, eight-year-old Amit, and six-year-old Anita, who now commute to school alone due to their mother's farm work, facing unknown daily dangers.
Ajit and his sister Sapana embark on their journey, leaving behind a worried mother. Ajit expresses fears of slipping, wild animals, and the treacherous path. The video highlights Nepal's high illiteracy rate and the fact that 80% of its population lives outside major cities, making access to education difficult for many.
To reach school, the children must cross the 60-meter-wide Trishuli River using a 'tuin,' a basket on two old, rusty wire cables. This method is extremely dangerous, with many accidents and near-drownings. Ajit fears being swept away by the wild river, especially during monsoon season.
Upon arriving at the river, the children often find the basket on the opposite bank, forcing them to wait for someone to bring it over. This can lead to significant delays, sometimes up to three hours, meaning they miss school. Being late can result in physical punishment from teachers.
A villager, farmer Pramod, arrives to cross the river with his goods. He uses a special pulley system called 'kirikiri' to reach the other side and retrieve the basket. The farmer explains that children cannot use this method due to lack of strength and the risk of drowning, as most cannot swim.
Crossing the river on the rusty 'tuin' rope is fraught with danger, including the risk of tetanus from wire splinters. Ajit's father, Hari, who built the 'tuin' eight years ago, carries the burden of its inherent dangers, having suffered a near-fatal injury himself while using it.
To get everyone across, the children must make multiple trips. Strict rules dictate that younger children ride in the basket, while older ones like Ajit and Rabindra must climb the ropes and push. Rabindra, Ajit's best friend, once fell from the 'tuin' but survived because he could swim.
The 'tuin' is old and unstable, with loosened and brittle ropes. A third rope, which used to make pushing easier, has ripped apart, increasing the difficulty and danger. Despite years of hopes and petitions, the government has not built a bridge, seemingly waiting for a fatality before taking action.
Ajit's teacher, Bhawani Sharma, expresses her frustration with the government's inaction, noting that a bridge was built elsewhere only after a student died. She highlights the significant academic disadvantage faced by children from Kanpur due to their arduous commute, impacting their concentration and performance.
Twenty-five minutes before school starts, uncrossed students still await. For fifth graders like Su-dit-sha and Amit, this morning marks their last ride in the basket; they will learn to push it themselves on the return journey. This transformation, known as the 'dance on the rope,' is a significant and terrifying rite of passage into adulthood.
After crossing the river, the children face the next challenge: hitchhiking on the dangerous Prithvi Highway, Western Nepal's main thoroughfare. The high accident rate, largely due to ramshackle trucks, makes this leg of their journey hazardous. Today, they are lucky to get a lift from an ambulance driver.
Ajit and his friends arrive at Shree Adarsha School in Gajuri just in time. Among the 650 students, Ajit and his peers from the mountains are considered outsiders, known only for their dangerous commute. Their academic struggles are evident; Ajit is number 39 in his class, near the bottom.
Ajit struggles with concentration in class, often thinking about his journey home. During the 30-minute lunch break, he and Rabindra eat a basic meal for 15 rupees, something many other students can't afford, further isolating them from their classmates.
After school, Ajit and the other students from Kanpur begin their journey back. They hitchhike on dangerous trucks, relying on the drivers for a lift, before reaching the river. The morning's rainfall has stopped, making the river crossing slightly less perilous, but the challenge remains daunting, particularly for the new 'rope dancers.'
Su-dit-sha and Amit face their first 'dance on the rope' during the return journey, marking a significant step into adulthood. Experienced children guide them on how to tread properly and maintain a steady pace, emphasizing the constant need for awareness and caution on this dangerous route.
The crossing, though difficult and slow, is a triumph for the new 'rope dancers.' They reach the riverbank exhausted but having completed the ritual. Ajit and Sapana then embark on the steep, hour-long trek up the mountain to their home, arriving after 6 p.m., having been on their feet for over 12 hours.
Ajit's mother expresses her daily relief when her children return safely, wishing for a bridge to ease their burden. Too exhausted for homework, Ajit dreams of a bridge that would allow him to focus on his studies, become a pilot, and see the world, a hope that concludes his long, dangerous day.