Education in Bihar

Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Lachhuar

Lachhuar is the birthplace of Tirthankar Mahavir. It had been one of the poorest towns in Bihar, engulfed in the wrath of Naxalism without any functional educational system in the area. In the 2001 Indian census, when the school was established, Rajgir had a literacy rate of 52%, (about 43% in Lachhuar) which was lower than the national average of 59.5%. The female literacy rate was especially low at 41% (much lower in Lachhuar at 27%).

Pujya Tai Ma felt the deep-rooted need for education for the children of Lachhuar. Veerayatan built a school largely co-funded by JAINA in 2002 in spite of local community resistance, the challenging work of construction without infrastructure, and the mortal danger from dacoits and Naxalite insurgents. The aim of the school is to empower the local communities by giving them the gift of the best educational facilities where humanitarian values are taught alongside academic studies.

Currently around 600 students attend the school daily and actively participate in its activities. Education in English and Hindi medium is provided with a healthy mix of sports, physical training and arts. The school has a library, computer centre, playground, medical facility and a school bus to transport children to and from school. The school has proven to be a source of inspiration to many, inculcating high moral values along with formal academic education, thereby resulting in a reduction in crime rates. The school is thriving academically; examination results have been excellent with all students achieving first class. Additionally, the students are very creative, participating in various local and national cultural events in front of large audiences. It is so lovely to see how well students are performing. Despite the challenges faced because of Covid, all the children have passed their Standard 10 exams, in 2021, with the average of 80% marks achieved.

Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Pawapuri, Bihar

Approximately 25 kilometers from Rajgir, Pawapuri is the Nirvana place of Tirthankar Mahavir. With the inflow of pilgrims, the people of the village and its surrounding imbibed the habit of living on charity given by the pilgrims. There was no need for education, as begging had become an easy option for all. As a result, the place gradually descended into the darkness of illiteracy, backwardness and extreme poverty.

Concerned by this situation, Pujya Tai Ma made a resolve to change this. In 2005 Veerayatan, therefore, established the Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, a modern primary and secondary education school at Pawapuri, providing its 1,200 students with skills and knowledge needed to attain their dreams. The 5 acres of safe haven has drawn hundreds of children off the streets and is educating them for a productive life ahead. The school has grown from strength to strength with numbers of students increasing each year. All the standard 10 and 12 students passed their exams in 2021 with the average result of 85%. And most importantly, it is amazing to see that there are no children begging on the streets!

Harikeshya School

Harikeshiya School in Bihar, opened in 2017, with the children from the lowest caste, the Musahar, in mind People from this community are ignored, discriminated and rated as third-class citizens with no one wanting to engage with them. Pujya Tai Ma wanted to break this cycle of discrimination. Parents are encouraged to send children to this free school. To foster good health and low absenteeism children are fed a nutritious meal each day. The school has 200 children registered (of which 120 children attend regularly). It is great to see how the children of Harikeshiya school and the children from main school are integrating so well with the barriers of caste breaking so quickly!