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| Kunphen Residential School, Morshing, Arunachal Pradesh |
A Conversation with Sonam Gechen Trangpoder
Founder, Kunphen Residential School, Morshing, Arunachal Pradesh
In the remote village of Morshing in Arunachal Pradesh, surrounded by mountains, forests, and silence, stands a school that is quietly shaping a different kind of future.
Kunphen Residential School is not just about education. It is about identity, survival, discipline, and purpose.
Jim Ankan Deka spoke with Sonam Gechen Trangpoder, who after serving 22 years in the Border Security Force, chose to return home and dedicate his life to building this institution from the ground up.
What follows is a detailed conversation about his journey, his philosophy, and the realities of running a school in one of the most remote parts of the country.
“We started with a lack - and turned it into a purpose.”
Jim: Let’s begin from the start. I’ve been really curious about this… how did this whole idea of starting the school first come to your mind?
Sonam:
The idea really comes from our own childhood experiences.
We are seven siblings—six brothers and one sister. During our childhood, there were no private schools in our area. My father understood the importance of education, so he tried to send us to a school in Shergaon, which is about 20 kilometers away.
But at that time, there were very limited seats. In fact, in the entire West Kameng and Tawang region, there was only one such school. So even though my father tried, all of us could not get that opportunity.
That stayed in our minds.
We kept thinking—there must be many children like us, who want a better education but simply cannot access it, either because of distance, lack of seats, or financial constraints.
Most families here depend on agriculture. Paying high school fees is not possible for many.
But there was another concern too.
We started noticing that slowly, our culture, traditions, and language were fading away.
Children who go outside for education often lose touch with their roots. They don’t understand the meaning behind rituals, practices, or even their own language.
So we felt that if we build something here, in the village itself, we can give children both:
- education
- and a connection to their identity
That’s how we started Kunphen Residential School.
“Kunphen” means benefit for all. That is the idea behind it.
“This is not my work alone—it’s a family effort.”
Jim: And this doesn’t feel like something you did alone… your brothers are also deeply involved in this, right?
Sonam:
Yes, very much.
My younger brother, Lobsang Nima Trangpoder, played a major role in shaping this vision. He studied commerce and later worked with an NGO in Bomdila. That exposure gave him a deeper understanding of social work and community needs.
He strongly believed that we should give back to society.
Our eldest brother is the decision-maker in the family, especially after our father passed away. He has supported us completely.
All of us share one common goal—to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
“We are also thinking about the village, not just the school.”
Jim: I also heard about adventure and tourism activities your brother is involved in.
Sonam:
Yes, that’s another aspect of our work.
Morshing is a very beautiful place, but it is still largely unexplored. There are historical sites, monasteries from the 14th–15th century, and natural beauty—but very few people know about them.
So we are also trying to promote sustainable tourism.
Activities like camping and even paragliding have been introduced. The idea is simple—if tourists come, the local community benefits.
- Homestays earn income
- Small shops earn income
- The village grows
So our work is not limited to the school—we are thinking about the entire ecosystem.
“From nation guarding to nation building.”
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| Jim Ankan Deka in conversation with Sonam Gechen Trangpoder |
Jim: Maybe we can go a little back… what was your own childhood like here? And how did education look like at that time? Tell me about your journey from BSF to running a school.
Sonam:
I served in the Border Security Force for 22 years.
Back then, we didn’t have much guidance. We were just told—study well, and you will have a good life.
I chose science after my matriculation, and later, through NCC, I developed a strong sense of patriotism.
I joined BSF through a recruitment drive in Bomdila, and over time, I grew within the system. I did physical training courses, became an instructor, and served in different roles.
But one realization changed everything.
In the force, I was contributing to nation guarding.
But I started feeling that I should also contribute to nation building—especially from the grassroots level.
So after 22 years, I took voluntary retirement and came back to my village.
“Here, I can shape lives directly.”
Jim: After making such a big decision… do you ever feel like maybe you should have continued there, or has this always felt right to you? Was it difficult to leave that life behind?
Sonam:
No, I never felt that I made a wrong decision.
In the force, I had my duty. But here, the impact is very direct.
If I teach a child discipline, punctuality, or healthy habits, I can see it becoming part of their life.
For example:
- waking up early
- daily exercise
- avoiding junk food
- understanding the environment
These things stay with them.
That gives me satisfaction.
“Education here is practical, not just theoretical.”
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| Kunphen Residential School, Morshing, Arunachal Pradesh |
Jim: If someone comes here for the first time and sees your school… what would you say is different about the way children learn here?
Sonam:
We follow the regular academic curriculum, but that’s just one part of it.
We focus equally on life skills.
Every day:
- Children do physical exercise
- They participate in cooking
- They work in the kitchen garden
- They learn by observing nature
For example, when teaching science, instead of just explaining, we bring plants and show:
- roots
- leaves
- structure
We want them to experience learning, not just memorize it.
“Children must learn to take care of themselves.”
We realized something important.
If we do everything for the children, they will never learn.
So we started making them do basic things themselves:
- Wash their own plates after meals
- Clean their own rooms
- Wash their clothes (from Class 3 onwards)
Initially, it was difficult. But gradually, they learned.
Our aim is simple—
wherever they go in life, they should never feel helpless.
“Nature is our classroom.”
Jim: Being surrounded by nature like this… how does that shape the way children grow and learn here?
Sonam:
Being surrounded by forests and rivers gives the school a unique advantage.
Children are taught:
- to respect trees
- to understand deforestation
- to keep rivers clean
Sometimes, even small things—like seeing plastic in water—become powerful lessons.
Over time, children start feeling connected to nature.
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| Kunphen Residential School, Morshing, Arunachal Pradesh |
Jim: One thing I noticed here is how clean everything is… the roads, the surroundings. Is that something the community actively works on?
Sonam:
Mostly, people here take responsibility for their own surroundings, so the village stays clean naturally. It’s not that we need constant community cleaning—things don’t get very dirty in the first place.
That said, during festivals or certain traditional days, we do come together and spread awareness about keeping the village clean and being careful, even about things like fire safety.
There’s also a system where people are informed in advance about these days, so everyone prepares and keeps the surroundings clean.
At the same time, our school is also involved. We take students out, collect waste, and use the dustbins placed around the village. Sometimes we also use an incinerator for disposal.
So the children don’t just hear about cleanliness—they actually practice it.
“We are trying to preserve what is disappearing.”
Jim: I’ve always known you as a storyteller… and you mentioned how culture is slowly fading away. How are you trying to keep those stories alive for the children here?
Sonam:
Earlier, stories were part of everyday life.
When someone was unwell or when people gathered, children would sit together and listen to elders narrate stories.
That culture is fading now.
So we have started:
- evening storytelling sessions
- encouraging children to collect stories from elders
We plan to compile these into a booklet, so that these stories are preserved for future generations.
“Running the school is the biggest challenge.”
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| Kunphen Residential School, Morshing, Arunachal Pradesh |
Jim: Running something like this in a place like this… I can imagine it’s not easy. How do you manage everything financially?
Sonam:
It is very challenging.
We charge minimal fees—around ₹30,000–₹40,000 per year.
That includes:
- food
- accommodation
- education
- uniforms
- stationery
But many families cannot even afford that.
If you calculate, it comes to around ₹80 per child per day.
Which is extremely low.
“We never compromise on food.”
Despite financial challenges, one thing is non-negotiable:
“We do not compromise on nutrition.”
To manage this:
- the family contributes
- we do farming
- some income comes from tourism
- some from donations
Sometimes, people sponsor children.
“What we need right now”
Jim: If someone listening to this really wants to help… what are the things that would make the biggest difference right now?
Sonam:
At present the school needs:
- A proper library building
- A generator (due to frequent power cuts)
- A solar power system
- A computer lab
“We want to prepare children for the future—but without losing their roots.”
The school plans to introduce:
- basic computer education
- awareness about AI
But with balance.
We are cautious about over-dependence on technology, having seen its negative effects elsewhere.
“People from across the world are helping.”
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| Kunphen Residential School, Morshing, Arunachal Pradesh |
Jim: I was also wondering about the teachers here… since this is a remote place and even network connectivity is limited, it must be challenging for teachers to stay and work here. How do you manage that?
Sonam:
What I’ve noticed is that the teachers who come here are very dedicated.
Yes, there are challenges—especially with connectivity. Until about one and a half years ago, we didn’t even have proper internet. It was just 2G, and even that didn’t really work. So it was very difficult for teachers, especially in today’s time when everything depends on mobile and internet.
Even now, though it has improved a bit, it’s still not like cities. So naturally, it’s not easy for teachers to stay here.
But those who do stay—they come with a strong sense of purpose.
Interestingly, the school has also attracted volunteers from across the globe:
- USA
- UK
- France
- Germany
- Japan
- Taiwan
These volunteers come and stay for different durations—some for a month, some for a few months, and some even longer.
For example, we have one volunteer who has been here for over one and a half years.
Many of them come from big cities, and when they leave, they often say that this place has changed them—that they feel detoxed and their perspective on life has shifted.
I’ve seen real changes in people. For instance, one of our volunteer teachers is a lawyer from the Jharkhand High Court. When he first came, he couldn’t even finish a single volleyball match because he would get tired. But now, he can play multiple matches easily. His lifestyle has completely changed.
So it’s not just that we are changing the children’s lives—this place is also changing the lives of the people who come here.
“Our goal is not just education—it is character.”
Jim: When you think about the future… maybe 5–10 years from now… what do you hope these children become?
Sonam:
When I think about the future, the most important thing for me is that our children should not grow up with only book knowledge.
Along with modern education, we are also teaching them our traditional language and scripts, because our culture and religion are deeply connected to it. Even though we speak the Monpa dialect, we use Tibetan script, and we are trying to keep that alive.
But beyond that, what I really want is that our children gain knowledge of life.
Not just academic knowledge—but the kind of understanding that helps them deal with real situations.
In the future, they will definitely face struggles. That is part of life. But if their foundation is strong from the beginning, they will be able to take the right steps when those challenges come.
So my focus is on building that foundation from here.
Going forward, I will continue to improve the school as much as possible. I want to keep developing it so that we can give children better opportunities.
Because ultimately, children are the future of the nation.
If we start from a small village like this, and give them the right education and values, they can grow into good human beings and responsible citizens.
That is my vision.
We don’t want our children to grow up with only book knowledge.
We want them to:
- understand life
- respect culture
- become independent
- become responsible citizens
If the foundation is strong, they can face any challenge in life.
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| Sonam Gechen Trangpoder with his family |
Jim: Before we wrap up, I’d love to understand a little about your family as well… how have they been a part of this journey?
Sonam:
My wife is from the same village—we’ve known each other since childhood. She’s been very supportive in this journey.
After her graduation, she also had opportunities to work. But when we started this, we had to make a choice. I told her, if both of us are working, then who will give time and care to our children?
So she decided to stay back and focus on the family.
We have two children—my daughter is in Class 10 and my son is in Class 4. Since our school goes only up to Class 8, they are studying outside now.
It’s not always easy to manage time. Sometimes when I visit, my son asks me not to go back. But I tell him—‘You are two here, but I have 65 children waiting for me there.’
And he understands.
I’m very attached to the children here, but I also have to be strict. Discipline is important.
At the same time, being around them keeps me happy. When they go home for holidays, the place feels empty.
Jim: I’m truly inspired by your journey. What you and your family have built here is incredible. This doesn’t feel like just a school… it feels like something much deeper, almost like a sacred space. Thank you so much for sharing your story with me.
Sonam:
Thank you so much to you as well.
You came here, you met the children, and you took the time to understand the school and my journey.
I’m very grateful that you want to share our story with the world.
For that, I truly thank you.
A life built on purpose
Kunphen Residential School is more than a school.
It is:
- a response to lack
- a preservation of culture
- a model of community-driven education
And above all, it is proof that real change does not always come from large systems.
Sometimes, it begins with a simple decision—
to return home, and build something meaningful.
