From Brickfields to Blackboards: Miyaraj’s Journey to Education

From Brickfields to Blackboards: Miyaraj’s Journey to Education

Twelve-year-old Miyaraj Shekh had always been a boy with bright eyes and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Born in Itinda village, Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, he was the eldest son of Tajimul Shekh and Rajia Bibi. Like many families struggling to make ends meet, his parents had no choice but to migrate for work, taking Miyaraj with them to SBM+BBS Brickfield when the brick-making season began.

Life in the brickfield was harsh — long hours of labour, scorching heat, and an uncertain future. Yet, amidst the dust and hardship, Miyaraj found solace in learning. When teachers from the Brickfield School encouraged him to join, he eagerly grasped the opportunity, attending classes every single day with an unmatched zeal. While many children struggled to balance work and education, Miyaraj remained unwavering in his dedication, his small hands holding books with the same determination with which his parents moulded bricks.

Seeing his keen interest and ability to pick up lessons quickly, the teachers knew that Miyaraj’s potential could not be confined to the informal setting of the brickfield school. He needed more — a structured learning environment where his curiosity could flourish, where he could build a future beyond the brickfields. The teachers recognised that he was ready to take the next step. With this conviction, they decided to advocate for his admission into a formal school, ensuring that his education would not be left incomplete.

What followed was a long and arduous battle — a series of prolonged discussions and persistent advocacy with school authorities to ensure Miyaraj could continue his education in a government school. The process was not easy. The school administration hesitated, questioning whether a child from the brickfield could cope with the structured environment of mainstream education. But the teachers never gave up.

Finally, after relentless efforts, the news came in February 2025 — Miyaraj was granted admission to Class VI at Panitor High School. It was a moment of triumph, a victory not just for Miyaraj, but for every child fighting for the right to education.

On 7^th February, his first day of school, Miyaraj stepped into the classroom wearing a neatly pressed uniform, holding his new books close to his chest. He was nervous yet excited, stepping into a world that once seemed out of reach. As he took his seat among his new classmates, he realised that this was just the beginning.

For his parents, it was a dream come true. They had spent their lives shaping bricks, but today, they had laid the foundation for their son’s future. With tears in her eyes, Rajia Bibi whispered, “This is what we never had, but our son will have — a chance to build a better life.”

Miyaraj’s story is more than just a tale of mainstreaming — it is a testament to the power of perseverance, the belief in a child’s potential, and the unwavering dedication of those who fight for education against all odds. In the dust-laden paths of the brickfields, one boy dared to dream, and because of that, his life changed forever.

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