Nepalese grandfather returns to the classroom
Nepalese grandfather Durga Kami brushes his bushy white beard, puts on his school uniform and, with the aid of his walking stick, trudges for over an hour to class for another day of learning. Poverty prevented Kami finishing his studies as a child and achieving his goal of becoming a teacher. Now 68, the father of six and grandfather of eight goes to school six days a week to complete his studies and escape a lonely home life following the death of his wife. Kami says he wants to keep studying until his death, adding he hopes it will encourage others to ignore age obstacles. "If they see an old person with white beard like me studying in school they might get motivated as well," he said.
Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in the tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, walks outside the school in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, answers a question from his teacher as he attends a class in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in the tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, takes a rest as he walks to school in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Durga Kami, 68, who is currently studying tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, looks into a mirror as he combs his beard while getting ready for school in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
A teacher helps Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in the tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, to fill his registration form to apply for the upcoming School Leavers Certificate Exams in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in the tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, drinks tea as he prepares dinner at his one-room house in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
An English notebook belonging to Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in the tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, is seen on his desk in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in the tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, collects his school uniform, which has been drying in the sun outside his one-room house in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Durga Kami, 68, who is studying in the tenth grade at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School, uses a torch to read a book during a power cut, at his one-room house in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
Durga Kami (C), 68, and his classmates pose for a group picture in their classroom at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School in Syangja, Nepal.Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters