Girls Rising in Rajgir

Sister Rose Plathottam provides education to girls from marginalized communities in Bihar, India, through Chirag Vidyalaya, a school she founded in 2010. Located near Rajgir at the Chetanalaya social, medical, and educational center, the school serves approximately 240 girls from low caste communities, including the Musahar community.

The school has seen more than 200 graduates enter various professions. One former student, Rani Kumari, completed 10th grade at the school before receiving help from Sister Rose to pursue nursing. Kumari now works at Holy Family Hospital in Patna. Sister Rose noted that the success of these graduates has encouraged more local families to educate their daughters.

Sister Rose has operated the ministry for over two decades despite facing violence. During the early years of Chetanalaya, the center was attacked and looted on several occasions, resulting in a head injury for Sister Rose.