Chuskit Goes to School
by Sujatha Padmanabhan
(Communication with Cambridge)
Paragraph 1
Chuskit woke up early that morning. It was a very special day and she was too excited to sleep. She looked out of the window and saw spring in Ladakh. The apricot trees were in full bloom. Magpies were searching for insects. Her Ama-ley was already awake and making gur-gur tea.
Meaning / Explanation:
Chuskit woke up very early because she was very excited. It was a special day for her. Outside her window, she saw beautiful spring flowers and birds. Her mother was already awake and preparing tea in the kitchen.
Paragraph 2
Chuskit had been awake for the last hour. This was the day she would remember for a long time. Today was her first day at school. At nine years old, she had waited a long time for this day.
Meaning / Explanation:
Chuskit had not slept for an hour because she was thinking about the day. It was her first day at school. She was nine years old and had waited many years to go to school.
Paragraph 3
The school was not very far from her home. To reach it, one had to walk to the main road, take a path near a prayer wheel, cross a small stream by jumping on rocks, and then walk up a slope to reach the school.
Meaning / Explanation:
The school was near Chuskit’s house. To reach it, people had to follow a path, cross a small stream using stones, and walk uphill. After that, they would reach the school.
Paragraph 4
All the children of Chuskit’s village walked to school easily every day. But it was not easy for Chuskit because she had a disability and could not walk.
Meaning / Explanation:
Other children could walk to school without any problem. But Chuskit could not walk like them because she had a physical problem.
Paragraph 5
Chuskit was born with legs that did not work properly. Her father took her to doctors, but no medicine helped her walk.
Meaning / Explanation:
Chuskit’s legs were weak since birth. Her father tried many treatments, but nothing could make her walk.
Paragraph 6
At first, Chuskit did not feel different from her brother or cousins. Later, she realised that there were many things she could not do easily like them.
Meaning / Explanation:
Earlier, Chuskit felt just like other children. As she grew older, she understood that she could not do many things as easily as others.
Para No. 7 (Original Text)
“That does not matter,” her Aba-ley would tell her whenever she felt sad. “You can stitch better than any one of them. And you draw very well.” Aba-ley often brought her some colour pencils from Leh.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit’s father always encouraged her when she felt unhappy. He told her that she was very good at stitching and drawing. He showed his love by bringing her colour pencils.
Para No. 8 (Original Text)
Chuskit would sit at the kitchen window every day and draw what she saw while her Ama-ley cooked. She could see her family’s animals being taken to graze every morning. She could see the blue waters of the stream that flowed nearby. And she would be the first one to announce the arrival of a visitor to their house.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Every day Chuskit sat near the window and drew pictures of what she saw. She watched animals going to eat grass and the blue stream flowing nearby. She was very observant and noticed visitors first.
Para No. 9 (Original Text)
Chuskit used a wheelchair to move around. You could move it in any direction—forward, left, right, and even backward—by moving the wheels with your hands. You only needed to have really strong arms to push the weight of your body and the chair.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit moved using a wheelchair. She used her hands to move it in all directions. She needed strong arms to push herself and the wheelchair.
Para No. 10 (Original Text)
When Aba-ley first brought the wheelchair home, everyone in her family was very excited.
Meaning (Easy Language)
When Chuskit’s father brought the wheelchair, the whole family felt happy and excited because it helped her move easily.
Para No. 11 (Original Text)
“Now I won’t have to carry Chuskit everywhere, I can wheel her around,” said Ama-ley, with tears of happiness in her eyes.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit’s mother felt very happy. She said that now she would not need to carry Chuskit because the wheelchair would help her move Chuskit easily.
Para No. 12 (Original Text)
“And I will be able to go wherever I want!” cried Chuskit excitedly.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit felt very excited and happy because she could now go anywhere she wished.
Para No. 13 (Original Text)
“Please, please, could I ride on your wheelchair once in a while?” begged Stobdan. He wanted to wheel it around too. It looked like fun.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit’s brother Stobdan requested to sit on the wheelchair sometimes. He thought riding it would be fun.
Para No. 14 (Original Text)
Slowly Chuskit learnt to use her wheelchair. She would ask her mother to seat her in the wheelchair outside her home every evening. From here, she would watch children returning from school, chattering and laughing merrily in groups.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit slowly learned how to use her wheelchair. Every evening she sat outside and watched children coming back from school happily while talking and laughing.
Para No. 15 (Original Text)
In a while, the evening bus would return from Leh, bringing back people from work and the marketplace. How much more exciting the world was from here than from the kitchen window!
Meaning (Easy Language)
In the evening, the bus brought people back from work and the market. Sitting outside, Chuskit felt the world looked much more exciting than watching it from the kitchen window.
Para No. 16 (Original Text)
One evening, when Chuskit was sitting outside the house with her grandfather, a young boy came up to her. He carried a letter, which he handed over to the grandfather. “Julley,” the bus driver asked me to give this to you,” he said.
Meaning (Easy Language)
One evening, Chuskit was sitting outside with her grandfather. A young boy came and gave a letter to her grandfather. The letter was sent by the bus driver.
Para No. 17 (Original Text)
“My name is Abdul,” he said turning to Chuskit. “I study in Class 6 at the Government School. I have often wondered why you don’t come to school.”
Meaning (Easy Language)
The boy introduced himself as Abdul. He told Chuskit that he studied in Class 6. He asked her why she did not come to school.
Para No. 18 (Original Text)
“Julley, Abdul,” said Chuskit. “I have never been to school. The path to the school is too uneven and pebbly and my wheelchair will get stuck. Besides, I cannot cross the little stream in front of the school. It would be difficult for my parents to carry me to school and back every day. I used to be as light as a feather, but not anymore.”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit replied politely. She said she had never gone to school because the road was rough and her wheelchair could not move properly. She also said her parents could not carry her every day because she was now heavier.
Para No. 19 (Original Text)
“But would you like to come to school?” asked Abdul.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Abdul asked Chuskit if she wished to go to school.
Para No. 20 (Original Text)
“Of course!” replied Chuskit. “I hear my younger brother talk of all that he does at school. I want to study like all of you, make friends, play games, wear a uniform, and even write exams. Sometimes, my brother teaches me songs that he has learnt at school, and I love it. You may not believe this, but I sometimes dream of carrying a school bag, even eating packed lunch.”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit said she really wanted to go to school. She wanted to study, make friends, play, wear a uniform, and take exams like other children. She even dreamed of carrying a school bag and eating lunch from it.
Para No. 21 (Original Text)
“Enough! Enough!” interrupted her grandfather. “Stop dreaming, Chuskit. You know you cannot go to school. I have told you this many times. Learn as much as you can at home.”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Her grandfather stopped her and told her not to dream about school. He reminded her that she could not go to school and advised her to study at home instead.
Para No. 22 (Original Text)
“Mem-ley, please,” pleaded Chuskit softly, with tears in her eyes as her grandfather walked away angrily.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit begged her grandfather politely. She was crying because he was angry and walking away from her.
Para No. 23 (Original Text)
“Mem-ley does not understand how I feel,” said Chuskit. “I remember the day my brother recited his tables with such pride, even the time he learned to read. My parents were very happy as they have never been to school. I too want to learn to read and do math. Do you understand?”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit felt that her grandfather did not understand her feelings. She remembered how proud her family was when her brother studied. She also wanted to read and do maths like him.
Para No. 24 (Original Text)
“I do,” said Abdul. “Chuskit, I will see you again. I must go now. My mother will be waiting for me. Julley!”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Abdul understood Chuskit’s feelings. He told her that he would meet her again and then left to go home.
Para No. 25 (Original Text)
The next day, Abdul went straight to the Headmaster’s room after assembly. “Julley, Azhang-ley!” he said. “I want to talk to you about a girl from our village who does not go to school. Her name is Chuskit. She is Stobdan’s sister.”
Meaning (Easy Language)
The next day, Abdul went to the headmaster and spoke about Chuskit. He told him that she lived in their village and did not go to school.
Para No. 26 (Original Text)
“Oh yes,” replied the Headmaster. “I know her. She has a disability, doesn’t she?”
Meaning (Easy Language)
The headmaster said that he already knew Chuskit and knew that she had a physical problem.
Para No. 27 (Original Text)
“Yes, Azhang-ley. She uses a wheelchair to move around but cannot reach school, as the path from her home is too rough and uneven. I was wondering if we could do anything to help her, Azhang-ley. We could all get together and level the path and also build a small bridge across the stream.”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Abdul explained that Chuskit used a wheelchair but could not come to school because the road was rough. He suggested making the path smooth and building a small bridge to help her.
Para No. 28 (Original Text)
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Abdul,” said the Headmaster as he patted him on the back.
Meaning (Easy Language)
The headmaster praised Abdul for being kind and caring.
Para No. 29 (Original Text)
“What made you think of Chuskit and her problems?”
Meaning (Easy Language)
The headmaster asked Abdul why he thought about helping Chuskit.
Para No. 30 (Original Text)
“Azhang-ley, last week we read about the fundamental rights of citizens in our civics class. All children have a right to education. That includes Chuskit as well, does it not?”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Abdul said that all children have the right to study. He believed that Chuskit also had the same right.
Para No. 31 (Original Text)
“Yes, you are right, Abdul. Let me discuss this with the other teachers,” replied the Headmaster.
Meaning (Easy Language)
The headmaster agreed with Abdul and said he would talk to the other teachers.
Para No. 32 (Original Text)
The next day, the Headmaster called all the teachers to a meeting. He shared Abdul’s ideas with the group and asked the teachers what they felt.
Meaning (Easy Language)
The headmaster called a meeting of teachers and told them Abdul’s ideas about helping Chuskit.
Para No. 33 (Original Text)
“Impossible!” said one of them.
Meaning (Easy Language)
One teacher felt that helping Chuskit was not possible.
Para No. 34 (Original Text)
“How can we have such a child in our school? How will she be able to write, play and go to the toilet like the other children do?”
Meaning (Easy Language)
Some teachers worried about how Chuskit would manage daily school activities.
Para No. 35 (Original Text)
“That’s exactly what we have to work out,” said the Headmaster. “I hear that in the village of Mentok Yul, the Village Education Committee has helped build a special toilet for a child with a disability. We could ask them what they have done. But first, we will have to get Chuskit to school. Then we could think of ways of helping her do things in school.”
Meaning (Easy Language)
The headmaster said that problems can be solved. He gave an example of another village that helped a child with disability. He said that first they should bring Chuskit to school and then find ways to help her.
Para No. 36 (Original Text)
Two weeks later, there was great excitement at the Government School. All the children had gathered outside in the playground. They had come to school without their school bags—there were going to be no classes today!
Meaning (Easy Language)
After two weeks, everyone in the school was very excited. All the children came to school without bags because there were no classes that day.
Para No. 37 (Original Text)
The teachers divided the children into groups. One group worked in front of Chuskit’s house and another on the path down the stream. A third group with some of the older children worked hard to help some of their teachers build a strong wooden bridge across the stream.
Meaning (Easy Language)
The teachers made groups of children. Some worked near Chuskit’s house, some worked on the path, and older children helped build a wooden bridge over the stream.
Para No. 38 (Original Text)
The children laughed and sang as they removed stones and rocks, levelled the paths, and carried wooden planks to the stream.
Meaning (Easy Language)
The children were happy while working. They removed stones, made the path smooth, and carried wooden boards to the stream.
Para No. 39 (Original Text)
The Headmaster went from one group to another, making sure that all went according to plan.
Meaning (Easy Language)
The headmaster checked all the groups to make sure the work was being done properly.
Para No. 40 (Original Text)
Chuskit’s parents provided everyone with hot tea and biscuits. Chuskit’s grandfather sat under a willow tree by the stream watching the busy school children.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit’s parents gave tea and biscuits to everyone. Her grandfather sat nearby and watched the children working hard.
Para No. 41 (Original Text)
“I never dreamt I’d see a day like this!” he thought to himself as he wiped a tear that rolled down his cheek.
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit’s grandfather felt very emotional and happy. He never thought he would see such a wonderful day.
Para No. 42 (Original Text)
At the end of the day, it was a tired but happy group of children that returned to their homes. The path from Chuskit’s home to the school was now ready!
Meaning (Easy Language)
At the end of the day, the children were tired but happy. The path from Chuskit’s house to school was completed.
Para No. 43 (Original Text)
Chuskit was going to school for the first time in her life. And that’s why she was so excited!
Meaning (Easy Language)
Chuskit was finally going to school for the first time. That is why she felt extremely happy and excited.