Shimla: For 18-year-old Babli, attending school meant a 10-km trek through perilous mountain trails, and navigating zones prone to landslides and leopard attacks. The commute took six hours each day. But the odds, daunting as they were, couldn’t pull her down.
On 17 May, the Himachal Pradesh Board Of School Education announced the Class 12 results for the academic year 2024-25. A total of 93,494 students had appeared for the exams across 2,300 centres from 4 to 29 March. And Babli made the merit list.
In scoring 472 out of 500, she also brought newfound attention to her remote village of Maangan, 85 km from Sundarnagar in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, spotlighting its longstanding struggle for road connectivity.
In conversation with ThePrint, Babli revealed that she would wake up at 5 am each day, preparing to leave by 7 am to reach school in time. After the grueling trek on her way back, she could return home only around 6.30 pm.
The route from Maangan to her school is fraught with dangers. It goes through a densely forested area teeming with wildlife, and is prone to be hit by shooting stones during the monsoon. “My sister Nisha and I once spotted a leopard on our way to the school,” Babli told ThePrint. “We hid ourselves behind the bushes for safety. It was terrifying.”
“Many of my friends stopped studying after Class 10 because the journey was too dangerous,” Babli said. Adding, “I wanted to continue, and my father supported me despite opposition from some villagers who questioned sending a girl so far.”
The nearest health facility, 25 km away in Neeri, underscores the village’s profound isolation.
Her father, Mani Ram, a farmer, knew the dangers wild animals, landslides, and other hazards posed. “People told me sending my daughters to school wasn’t worth it. But Babli has made our village proud and proven that my trust in her was justified.”
‘I had to prove my father right’
Mani Ram was beaming with pride as he accompanied Babli to a school ceremony honouring her achievement a few days ago. It offered a moment for them to reflect on their arduous journey. “I studied late into the night. I had no choice,” said Babli.
Her place on the HPBOSE merit list was more than just a triumphant academic milestone. “I had to prove my father right, not just pass my exams.”
Babli’s success has ignited hope for Maangan, where the lack of infrastructure stifles talent. “Our village has no roads or basic facilities,” she said. “My results have gotten people talking, and efforts are being made to address these issues. That makes me happy.” She added the villagers often resort to palanquins to transport patients to the nearest road.
Maangan falls in Majhangan ward of Jaral Gram panchayat. The panchayat’s Majhangan and the neighbouring Kandi wards, with a combined population exceeding 500, remain without road connectivity, severely impacting the local economy and access to education.
Children in these wards attend Government High School in Majhangan up to Class 10 but often lack the means or confidence to travel long distances for higher education, limiting their opportunities.
Chinta Devi, pradhan of Jaral Gram panchayat, said Babli’s success would be a catalyst for change. “She has brought pride to our community and managed to highlight the road issue we’ve been fighting for years,” she told ThePrint. “We urge the government to act swiftly.”
Maangan’s challenges extend beyond securing an education for its children.
“Transporting produce to the nearest market costs Rs 600 per trip on mules,” said Mani Ram. “Growing cash crops is nearly impossible with such expenses.”
Jagat Ram, another farmer from the area, echoed the sentiment. “We grow maize and wheat for our own consumption. Selling to the market is impossible because transportation is so difficult.”
On Babli’s achievement, he added, “Mani Ram showed great courage. Many advised him to withdraw his girls from the school because it’s so far. But his courage and Babli’s hard work have made us proud.”
Local MLA Rakesh Jamwal hailed Babli as “an inspiration for our region”.
“Her merit list ranking despite such odds is extraordinary. I’ve been working to connect remote villages, and Maangan’s road is a priority. Progress has been made in other areas, and this village will follow soon,” he said.
Mani Ram’s focus has shifted to his younger daughter, Nisha, a Class 12 student at the same school. “Nisha is the only one from our village making this journey now,” he said. “I escort her halfway to ensure her safety, but it’s a daily struggle.”
Babli, who dreams of becoming a lawyer, views her achievement as a stepping stone. “I want to study in a college and serve my community,” she said. One of her teachers, speaking anonymously, described her triumph as “a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of education—and the barriers that still stand in its way”.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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