Nepal’s Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai completed most of his higher education in India. Now his school in Nepal too has formed a connection with the southern neighbour.
India has announced assistance of NRs 4.36 crores ( Rs. 2.75 crores approx) to Amar Jyoti Janata Higher Secondary
School in Luintel of Gorkha district in central Nepal.
This is the school from where a 15-year-old Bhattarai passed the school leaving certificate exam 43 year ago----becoming the country’s topper in an exam called ‘iron gate’ due to its high level of difficulty.
Bhattarai, who belongs to a family of astrologers turned farmers, was the first from his clan to receive a modern education.
On Friday, the old student who went on to study in Panjab University, New Delhi’s School of Planning and Architecture and Jawaharlal Nehru University, was back in his school.
He laid the foundation stone of the new building to be constructed with Indian assistance. The new facility is aimed at improving learning environment in the 62-year-old school with over 800 students.
“I am happy we are here to construct a new building for a school that has produced a prime minister of Nepal. I hope students will aspire to be a professional like,” said Indian ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad.
He assured continuation of India’s cooperation activities in Nepal as per the wishes and priorities of the government and people.
Indian assistance to Bhattarai’s school is part of the Nepal-India Economic Cooperation Programme, which has an outlay of NRs 64 billion (Rs 40 billion) for 425 large and small developmental projects.
These projects (both completed or under construction) are mostly in the education, health and infrastructure sectors.