For more than two decades, Sister Rose Plathottam has worked alongside girls and families from marginalized communities in Bihar, India, helping create opportunities through education.
Her ministry through Chetanalaya (“House of Life”), a social, medical, and educational center near Rajgir, was recently featured by Global Sisters Report. The story highlights Sister Rose’s work at Chirag Vidyalaya (“Lamp School”), a school founded in 2010 that now serves about 240 girls from low caste communities.
Many of the students come from the Musahar community, among the most economically and socially marginalized communities in Bihar. Sister Rose began focusing more on education after seeing the challenges facing girls with few opportunities to continue their studies. The results show in the lives of former students.
Rani Kumari, 23, completed 10th grade at Chirag Vidyalaya before Sister Rose helped her continue her education and pursue nursing. She now works as a nurse at Holy Family Hospital in Patna. “Whatever I have achieved in my life, is because of Sister Rose,” Rani told Global Sisters Report.
She is one of several former students who have gone on to work as nurses and other professionals. More than 200 girls have graduated from the school, and Sister Rose says their success has encouraged other families to see the value of educating their daughters.
The ministry has faced danger. Chetanalaya was attacked and looted several times in its early years. During one attack, Sister Rose suffered a head injury. Despite the violence, she continued her ministry with the girls and families of the area.
Sister Sangeeta Ayithamattam, then provincial, recalled that Sister Rose managed the center largely on her own for nearly 10 years amid serious security concerns.
Today, Sister Rose continues the ministry alongside Sister Jyoti Kerketta and lay staff. In addition to academics, students learn practical skills including hygiene, money management, and care for the environment.
For Sister Rose, education remains a way for girls to build greater possibilities for themselves and their families.
“Education helps the girls escape poverty and a bleak future,” she told Global Sisters Report.
The full story, written by Jose Kalapura, was originally published Oct. 7, 2026, by Global Sisters Report, a project of National Catholic Reporter. Read the original story at Global Sisters Report.