Sumit Tamang

Sumit was seriously disabled with Polio, yet never missed a day at school . Here is his story.

Sumit Tamang lives near St Mary’s school, Singla. You can read more about this school on this website.

During one of John Casson’s visits to St Mary’s school in 2004, he watched Sumit moving around on two crutches with considerable difficulty, Sumit had Polio.

Unfortunately for reasons still not known Sumit had not received his Polio prevention drops as other children in the area had.

Despite being very disabled by the Polio he did not miss a day at St Mary’s school, struggling to and from his home, what was normally a twenty minute walk up the steep hill was taking Sumit a lot longer.

Consulting with the school, Sumit and his parents, John and Jenny Casson paid for his operation in Patna in January 2005 to correct his badly affected left leg.

This was an extremely painful and long process requiring Sumit to stay in Patna for about six months with his Brother to look after him.

The operation was a great success, Sumit no longer needs his crutches, he has good mobility, one leg a little shorter than the other which is corrected with a higher soul on the shoe of the shorter leg, he can run but not fully bend his left leg, physical life is greatly improved and almost ‘normal’.

Later in 2005 Sumit was excited to return to St Mary’s school, keen to continue his education.

Sumit is a very bright, clever and personable young man with the potential for a good career.

Sumit’s family live amongst the Darjeeling tea gardens where there is approximately 75% unemployment, not much hope for this young man to avoid being part of that statistic without a good education.

Acknowledging his potential and after again consulting with Sumit and his parents, John and Jenny Casson sponsor Sumit’s private education as a ‘border’ at Rockvale Academy in Kalimpong, a hill station about two and half hours drive away.

Sumit has just completed his third year at Rockvale Academy, in his end of year exams achieving 1st overall in class in 2007, 2nd in 2008 and 4th in 2009, he promises his results will not slide back any further!

This web page will fill follow his progress over the years.