Two teenagers from Kagati Gaon. Their clothes are conspicuously better than that of the children around them. They also have footwear. Both these facts suggest that they were already economically independent. Parents thrust responsibilities on their children at an early age in Kagati Gaon. Families supplemented the income earned from agriculture by working as laborers in Kathmandu and selling firewood in the city.

Sumitra Manandhar Gurung’s classmates engrossed in a lecture.

The students had Saturdays off during their survey trip to Chapagaon. Sumitra Manandhar Gurung and some of her friends used these holidays to visit the nearby places.

Sumitra Manandhar Gurung and her classmates basking in the sun in Chapagaon, circa 1978. With them is Jagmohan Shrestha (third from left, wearing white sleeveless sweater), the man in whose house the students stayed during their survey trip.

Shanta, a primary school teacher in Chiti Tilahar’s school. She had joined the teaching staff soon after passing her SLC exams.

Sumitra Manandhar Gurung and Rukmini with their students. The photo was taken after the completion of a Scouts training given by Manandhar and her colleagues. The students in the photo had participated in the training. There are an equal number of male and female participants—a remarkable feat in the conservative village. Manandhar believes the presence of female trainers was the major motivation for the girls to participate.

The girls competing in the singing competition rehearsing their song before the final performance.

Students writing their exams in the school’s playground in Chiti Tilahar. To prevent cheating, Sumitra Manandhar Gurung and her fellow teachers had made the students sit several feet away from one another.

Chandra Gurung noting down prices of the commodities on sale at the Sindhulimadhi weekly market.