'No books, no tiffin, no water bottle': Indian mom in China shares what’s inside her child’s school bag

A video shared by an Indian-origin woman residing in China has captured widespread attention for its portrayal of school life for young children in the country. The clip, offering a detailed look inside her child’s school bag, has stirred admiration and surprise across social media platforms.

In the video, the woman opens her child’s school bag to reveal a minimalist collection of items. The bag itself was of a waterproof design, labelled with a name tag. Upon unzipping it, she displayed only a few essential articles of clothing: two pairs of T-shirts, one pair of shorts, and a pair of trousers. Absent were the usual school-day staples familiar to many Indian parents—no books, notebooks, lunchboxes, or water bottles.

The woman explained that she did not need to pack any food, drinking water, or study materials, as all such essentials were provided by the school. She emphasised the organised and student-friendly approach, noting the structured routine. According to her, her child leaves for school at 8 am and returns by 4 pm, indicating a full-day programme that includes learning and extracurricular development.

The video swiftly garnered thousands of views and a wave of commentary, with many online users expressing their admiration for the Chinese school system’s thoughtful simplicity. Several viewers were impressed by the bag’s contents—or lack thereof—and the efficient arrangement.

One commenter remarked, “These bags are often gifted by grandparents to their grandchildren as a custom,” offering cultural context to the seemingly uniform school bag. Another viewer drew a pop culture comparison, writing, “Nobita ka bag,” referring to the school bag carried by the iconic character Nobita from the Japanese cartoon series Doraemon.