Ramkewal, a Dalit student who used to earn by carrying lights at weddings, became the first 10th pass student of Nizampur, the district administration is taking responsibility for his further studies.
Uttar Pradesh: An inspirational news has come from Nizampur, a small Dalit dominated village in Barabanki district. 15-year-old Ramkewal broke the decades-old shackles of the village and became the first student of his village to pass the 10th board examination.
The UP Board results were declared on April 25, but the news of Ramkewal’s achievement made headlines on Sunday, when the story of his struggle and courage came to light.
Ramkewal studies during the day and at night he carries battery operated lights on his head at weddings, which earns him 250 to 300 rupees per night. In a year, he gets such work for 20 to 40 days, with which he runs his household expenses and buys his own study material.
“I bought my own books and stationery. If I don’t get work at weddings, I work as a farm labourer. I mostly study at night,” Ramkewal told reporters in his village, 28 kilometres from the Barabanki district headquarters.
His mother Pushpa is a cook at the village’s government primary school, while his father Jagdish Prasad works as a farm labourer. His father never went to school and his mother studied only till class V.
The school in Nizampur is only till class V. After that, children have to enrol in the government high school in Ahmedpur, 5 kilometres away. But most of them either drop out or fail in Class X.
“I was enrolled in the Ahmedpur school along with two other boys from my village. Lovelesh dropped out in class VIII and Mukesh, who failed this year, will try again next year,” Ramkewal said.
Ramkewal is now enrolled in Class XI and dreams of becoming an engineer.
His mother Pushpa says, “We have four children – two sons and two daughters. Ramkewal is the eldest. He never asked us for money. He studies hard. If he doesn’t get work, he goes to the fields and studies at night.”
On Sunday, District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi called Ramkewal and his parents to his office and announced that the district administration will now take responsibility for his further studies.
District School Inspector O.P. Tripathi said, “For now, arrangements have been made for his studies till Class 12, but we will ensure that he can study as much as he wants.”
Villagers said that when Ramkewal’s teachers came to know that the DM was going to meet them, they bought new clothes and shoes for their student. Till now he used to go to school barefoot.
Ramkewal’s success has infused new energy in the village. Lovelesh’s father Nanku said, “I have studied till Class 8 and work as a labourer in the fields. But now I want my son to start studying again. Education is the only way.”
Many women of the village also expressed happiness and said that now they are more determined than before to educate their children.
In a village where dreams used to die before they could even be born, now a child has not only picked up the lights but has also lit up the hopes of the entire village.
Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News