The Story of Shanta Chakma
Shanta was born in 2003 in the village of Udalthana, India to a family of cultivators. As is all too common in this area, the family lost their father early when Shanta was only seven, leaving his mother and sister struggling to support themselves. His sister and his mother’s dream to see Shanta get an education seemed hopeless until a local monk offered to sponsor the boy’s education in exchange for his mother to work as a cook at the local temple.
Shanta is a social, caring, bright-eyed boy always eager to learn. With his early sponsorship, he has been lucky to spend his grade and middle school years living and studying in English medium schools in Mizoram. Jovial, attentive and hard-working, Shanta can always be seen helping his fellow students and doing chores to help his school and also working hard to expand his English speaking and writing skills.
During his breaks from school, his journeys to visit his village are typically 3 to 4 day treks involving long walks and sometimes waiting a day to take two boat rides home. In 2018, Shanta’s mother began to struggle with the physical demands of her work, putting his further education sponsorship in doubt. This same year he qualified for the SOLWW educational scholarship allowing him to continue class 10 and envision the potential for Junior college.
