Dreams on the Dusty Roads 💓

Today, I’m not going to talk about the children from the “green field” .

My “green land” is something quite different  a small, beautiful village in the Sabaragamuwa Province, in the Kegalle District.

About twenty kilometers away from the town of Deraniyagala, deep in the hill country, lies my green little world.

It is a wonderfully beautiful village  the sacred land of God Sumana Saman.

In fact, for those who go on a pilgrimage to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), one of the most scenic routes begins right from the edge of this village.

Most of the children don’t come to school by bus. they come to school on foot.

That’s because there are very few public transport facilities in this area.

The same goes for the teachers.

The lack of proper transportation is one of the main reasons why education in this region faces many difficulties.

Most of the teachers in the schools around the Maliboda area come from distant districts.

For them to travel to school every day, there should be a proper and reliable transport system.

But sometimes, the morning bus breaks down before evening,

and the teachers who travel long distances face great inconvenience. This is big problem in this kind of area.Because of this, some private vehicles now provide transport services from the villages to Deraniyagala.

not only for school children but also for others who need to travel for their daily needs.

 

I too have chosen one such special bus to travel to my green land

“Sudda Mama’s bus,” as everyone calls it.

Early in the morning, that little bus fills up with the villagers and they come to town.

The whole village seems to come alive inside it.

It has its own unique charm.

For someone like me, an outsider, getting on that bus feels like stepping into another family’s home.

Everyone talks cheerfully, laughs together, and even shares food.

It feels less like a bus ride and more like a joyful little trip.

 

Most of the time, I use my uncle Sudda’s bus to go to my classes.

Every time I step onto that bus, I can’t help but remember the first chapter of  “To Sir, With Love.”

Though the situations are not the same.

E. R. Braithwaite’s book To Sir, With Love begins with the line:

 “The crowded red double-decker bus inched its way through the snarl of traffic in Aldgate.....”

That moment, when Braithwaite is on his way to his new school as a teacher, always reminds me of my own daily journey. Every day, when I step into the green bus that takes me to my village classes, I remember that same scene.

Just like Braithwaite, I too travel with hopes, dreams, and responsibilities to teach, to inspire, and to make a small difference in the lives of children in my “green village.”

Anyway, this is my belief

The little buds that bloom in this forest must learn to win their lives, no matter what challenges they face.

As a teacher, I always try my best to be a source of strength, love, and encouragement for them.

I feel it is my duty to help them discover their own paths and to guide them towards the brightness of life.