Karbir Rai, 66, of Muga, Pakhribas Municipality-7, Dhankuta, who did not give up his desire to learn even after dropping out of school, has passed the Secondary Education Examination (SEE).

Nearly 56 years after passing grade 7, he is trying to complete his incomplete educational journey by passing SEE through the open learning system. Rai, who was born in the then Muga Gaun Panchayat-1, Gairitol in 2017, had passed grade 7 from the local Ram Middle School in 2027.

Seeing his potential, the then principal of the school, Achyut Ghimire, and teachers Madhav Ghimire, Urmila Shrestha and Gol Dewan admitted him directly from grade 3 to grade 5. Rai recalls, 'At that time, it was customary to promote good students to grade 5, but I got admitted to grade 4 instead of grade 5.'

Although students studied up to grade 7 in the village, they had to go to the Dhankuta headquarters for higher studies. His studies were stopped there because there was no environment for higher education in the village. He thought that his education was complete, saying, 'Now no one in the village can fool his son.' He still remembers that time and says, 'Let's go and study Anand Lahari, Preeti Lahari, Bhaigo. We are going to sing the song of Naurangi Danfe,' Karbir remembered his parents saying at that time. But his passion for studies did not end. In 2040 BS, he planned to take the private test exam from Bharati Secondary School in Chungmang VDC. At that time, there was a system where one had to pass the test exam before taking the SLC.

Although he passed the test exam, he could not pass the SLC. He took the exam from the designated examination center at Dhankuta Multiple Campus, and although he succeeded in English, Nepali, history and education, he failed in geography, science and mathematics. After that, his studies were interrupted again. When his friends from the village went to the coal mines of India for employment, he also went there. After a few years, he returned to the village and got married.

After the political changes of 2046 BS, in 2049 BS, he was elected vice-president of the then Muga VDC from the CPN-UML. At that time, Indra Bahadur Rai was the VDC president. After that, his studies were again neglected as he was active in public representatives, party politics and social services.

In 2080 BS, he suddenly felt the urge to study again. 'I can't even work now, how long will I sit and watch ludo being played in the village? Now I thought I would study 11-12 after passing SEE,' he said.

In 2080 BS, he enrolled in the open learning system. He applied from Sagarmatha Dolphin College in Dharan, Sunsari and went to Rajbiraj, Saptari to take the exam. While going to the exam center, other students used to tease him and say, 'Grandpa, sit down' and give him a seat on the bus. In his first attempt, he passed five subjects but failed in two subjects. In 2081 BS, he took the grade enhancement exam for mathematics and economics. Although he was successful in economics, mathematics stopped him again. After that, he came to the Dhankuta headquarters to learn mathematics. Gopal Rai, a mathematics teacher from Lower Gokundeshwar, gave him free tuition for two months. Chandra Guragain, a teacher from Upper Gokundeshwar, also helped him.

For the SEE conducted in Chaitra 2082, he applied again from Sagarmatha Dolphin College in Dharan and took the exam at KE Secondary School in Rajbiraj. In the results published on Monday night, he passed the SEE with a 'C' grade.

He could not do the work of checking the results himself. 'I cannot search on the internet. I found out from my daughter-in-law,' he said with a laugh, 'I have passed with a C grade, now I will study 11-12.' Now he plans to enroll in class 11 with a management subject. He is preparing to study till grade 12 in Dhankuta and has also planned to bring his wife Karuna Dewan from Muga to Dhankuta. 'The old people cook food, I go to study,' he said.