Pankaj Karki : From Hills to Haldwani – A student’s journey

Born and brought up in the hills, Pankaj Karki studied at Himalaya Inter College, Chaukori, a small village famous for its tea gardens. He is currently studying for his Bachelor’s degree in Haldwani, a town in the plains of Uttarakhand. Here is his story in his own words.

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Hello! My name is Pankaj Karki. I am from Dantola of Pankhu village, about 15 km from Chaukori. My father works on our family farm in Pankhu and my mother takes care of home affairs. I am the eldest son and I have two sisters who are married. My first sister completed B. Ed after her M.A.and the other is also doing B.Ed.

After passing intermediate from Himalaya Inter College (HIC) in 2021, I joined the Bachelor of Science program at Motiram Baburam Government post graduate college in Haldwani. I am in my final year now and will complete the course this summer. My favourite subject is Mathematics. I got interested in it because of my math teacher at HIC. He was very good at explaining the concepts. So I chose to study mathematics in my Bachelors degree. After my studies, I would like to apply for a job in the armed forces. My immediate goal is to become a soldier. 

Ideally I would like to go into the teaching profession. So I want to study for a masters in physics. I still remember my time at HIC. The teachers were well qualified and experienced. They were very friendly to students and always encouraged them to ask questions. We were lucky to have such teachers and a school situated in the lap of nature with fresh mountain air and water. My favourite pastime at HIC was to play volleyball in the open with my friends. 

Living in the hills, however, has its drawbacks. Lack of places for higher education and hospitals and medical care, poor transportation facilities are some of  the challenges hill people have to deal with. In our hills there are few employment opportunities.. The natural environment is degraded by single use plastic and its improper disposal. Mining for natural resources like sand stone is causing soil degradation and land slides. 

As for my present life in a city like Haldwani, in my spare time,  I regularly go to the gym and take walks. To unwind, I listen to music. Pappu Karki and Arjeet Singh are my favourite musicians.

I have some suggestions to share with my juniors at HIC: First you must respect your parents and teachers. Always listen to those who point out the challenges which you are likely  to face in future. You must heed their advice for a better life. Enjoy your school life but pay attention to your studies. Your time is very precious, use it wisely and do not waste it. Strive to achieve good marks, ranks and grades. Be strong in basic concepts and fundamentals. Be interested in the process of learning. Acquire domain knowledge and practical skills. If you work hard you will surely achieve your educational goals and you will be fine in life. 

My contact details:

Phone: 7500676306

Email: pankajkarki2005@gmail.com

Instagram: sonofbharatmaa143

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