Balika Adarsh Vidyalaya, Mangalwar Peth, Tilakwadi, Belagavi quietly tells a powerful story of resilience. When the Thalakwadi Female Education Society invited its newly inducted members to witness the school’s work, they saw something rare—a Marathi-medium public school not just surviving, but flourishing.
With over 1,600 girls, mostly from economically fragile families, BAV has stood strong for more than 85 years. Its credibility is such that every year deserving students seeking admission are turned away, simply for lack of space and staff. Confronted with a crumbling old building, the management took a bold step—appealing to the public to help build a new one. That dream is now rising, brick by brick.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Classes have shifted between temporary buildings and three different locations, testing everyone involved. Yet the determination of the management, teachers, and above all the students, has never wavered.
Despite every disruption and difficulty, the girls of Balika Adarsh Vidyalaya continue to learn, dream, and prove that circumstances may challenge them—but will never define them.
Fear of Talent Being Lost
What is most painful is not the lack of buildings or equipment—it is the fear that extraordinary talent may quietly fade away.
These girls have already proven their mettle. With whatever little they have, they have excelled in Atal Tinkering Lab competitions, handball, throwball, athletics, Mini Olympics, wrestling and more. Every time Balika Adarsh Vidyalaya participates in a competition, schools across Karnataka take notice. Their consistency is not accidental—it is the result of raw ability, discipline and hunger to learn.
In classrooms and makeshift labs, these girls speak the language of the future. They understand circuits, robots, IoT, and problem-solving through technology. They are keenly observant and ask the right questions to find solutions. Their eyes light up when they talk about becoming engineers, innovators, and professionals in technology-driven fields. The spark is real. The potential is undeniable.
And yet, behind that spark lies a quiet heartbreak.
Most of these girls do not know how their dreams will survive after school ends. College fees, project materials, competition expenses—these are mountains for families already struggling to meet daily needs. For many, higher education remains a dream they can see clearly, but cannot afford to touch. When school ends, dreams risk ending with it.
The school stands firmly by them—offering academic guidance, emotional strength and moral support. Teachers go far beyond their duties, mentoring, training and believing in these girls even when circumstances say otherwise. But resources have limits. Participation in technology-based competitions often requires funds for materials and development—funds the school simply does not have. Recently, the ATL team won two top prizes but going any further will mean travel costs and material expenses which they don’t have. Proper nutrition, so vital for physical strength and sporting excellence, remains a distant luxury. The girls try their best, but malnourished and fragile bodies cannot always match fierce talent on bigger stages.
This is where society must pause—and act.
If we do not step in now, we risk losing innovators, athletes, leaders and changemakers—not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked support. These girls are not asking for charity; they are asking for a chance.
As a society, we must come forward—at the very least—to support their education, nutrition, training and competitive exposure in the form of travel expenses, material costs and specific training. They are the future strength of our nation. And the cost of ignoring their potential will be far greater than the cost of helping them rise.