WEB CHUTNEY

A father of six and a grandfather of eight Durga Kami is 68, and one of the Nepal’s oldest students.

He goes to school to complete his studies and escape a lonely home life following the death of his wife. “To forget my sorrows I go to school,” Kami said in an interview.

Kami was unable to finish his studies as a child because of poverty. Now the 68-year-old widower puts on his uniform and and walks for over an hour to get to school.

Six days a week in a one room school with two hundred other pupils, Kami learns the skills he hopes will make his dreams of teaching one day become a reality.

Currently in the 10th grade in Nepal’s schooling system, he studies alongside 14 and 15-year-old students. Despite his age, Kami joins in all school activities, including volleyball.

Since he joined them last year the other pupils have warmed to Kami – calling him ‘Baa’, which is Nepali for dad.

To save money Kami spends his nights studying in darkness and often skips meals so he can go to school.

He hopes to inspire the next generation. “If they see an old person with white beard like me studying in school they might get motivated as well,” Durga Kami says.