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Indian Express
06-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Class 10 student makes history as first in UP village to pass board exams since independence
In a historic feat for a remote hamlet in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki, a 15-year-old has become the first villager to pass the class 10 board exams since independence. Ramkeval hails from Nizampur village, which is about 30 km from here and has a population of around 300 people, primarily from the Dalit community. The eldest of four siblings, he did odd jobs during the day to support his family and burnt the midnight oil to prepare for the exams. District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi on Sunday honoured Ramkeval and his parents in recognition of the achievement. He also assured him of all the help in his studies. In an emotional recounting, Ramkeval shared that he used to carry lights in wedding processions and earned Rs 250 to 300 per day. 'Despite returning late at night, I would study for at least two hours under a solar lamp at home. Some people in the village used to mock me, saying I would never pass high school. But I always believed I would prove them wrong,' Ramkeval, who studied at the Government Inter College in Ahmedpur near Nizampur, said. Being the eldest, he also contributed to household expenses. 'Poverty forces one to do everything. But I wanted to study no matter what,' he said. Asked about his dreams, Ramkeval said he wants to become an engineer, but admitted he still finds it hard to believe that he has passed class 10. 'It will take time to accept that this is real,' he said. According to Ramkeval's family and teachers, he has always been a bright student and consistently performed well in tests and exams. His mother, Pushpa, a cook at the village primary school, was overwhelmed with pride, 'I always believed my son would pass. I studied only till class 5, but I want my children to pursue higher studies despite our financial struggles'. Ramkeval's siblings are in classes nine, five and one. Jagdish, Ramkeval's father, who works as a daily wage labourer, said, 'I couldn't study, but I always encouraged my son. Even when he came for work with me, he would return and study.' District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) O P Tripathi praised the student's determination, saying, 'Ramkeval has shown the next generations the path to succeed. I congratulate him and his family for writing an inspiring new chapter in the village's history. 'I also take full responsibility for supporting his future education so he can realise his dreams. He is a role model for students who feel disheartened about education.' Meanwhile, other students in the village, like Lovelesh and Mukesh – who failed to pass the exam this year – have renewed their resolve to study harder, inspired by Ramkeval. Lovelesh's father, Nanku, said, 'I studied till class 8. I work in the fields, but I don't want my son to remain a labourer. Education is the only way forward.' Women in the village expressed joy and hope, saying they are now determined to educate their children.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
From wedding lights to board exam bright: Dalit teen cracks Class 10, becomes village's first pass-out since Independence
Ramkeval, who went from carrying wedding lights for Rs 250 a day to becoming the first student in his village to pass the Class 10 board examination since India's Independence. From baraats to boardrooms (almost) One student, one mission, one milestone The family that studies together... In a world where academic triumphs are often taken for granted, one teenager from a small village in Uttar Pradesh has lit up his future—quite literally. Meet 15-year-old Ramkeval, who went from carrying wedding lights for Rs 250 a day to becoming the first student in his village to pass the Class 10 board examination since India's from Nizampur, a Dalit-populated village with around 300 residents located 30 km from Lucknow, Ramkeval's achievement has sparked celebration, pride, and hope. With his mother working as a school cook and his father as a labourer, the odds were stacked sky-high against him. But despite the jeers of doubters and the weight of poverty, Ramkeval burned the midnight oil—sometimes literally, using a solar lamp—to chase his support his family and his studies, Ramkeval carried lighting equipment in wedding processions, earning Rs 250 to 300 per day. According to TNN, he said, "Despite returning late at night, I would study for at least two hours under a solar lamp at home." While his earnings illuminated wedding venues, his ambition lit up the path to a brighter studied at the Government Inter College in Ahmedpur, the nearest institution with access to secondary education. His academic journey was closely supported by the Barabanki district authorities. As reported by TNN, Barabanki district magistrate Shashank Tripathi honoured Ramkeval and his parents, assuring them of full support in his educational story stands out not just for his personal win, but for being a lone warrior—he was the only student from Nizampur who appeared for the Class 10 board exams. As quoted by the TNN on X, district inspector of schools O.P. Tripathi shared, "We encouraged his parents to send him to school. We used to take his weekly and monthly tests and show his good performance in the tests to his parents."Tripathi added that although there are government schools within 2–3 km of Nizampur, enrolment has historically been low due to widespread poverty and lack of awareness. Still, Ramkeval's success is already inspiring others in the village. According to TNN, students like Lovelesh and Mukesh, who failed the exam this year, have now renewed their resolve to study isn't the only one with a notebook in hand—his three younger siblings are also enrolled in school. One is in Class 9, another in Class 5, and the youngest is just starting out in Class 1. Their mother, Pushpa Devi, told the TNN, "We have barely enough to eat and have to struggle for simple things. We don't want this life for our children. And we believe education is going to change that."With support from local authorities, inspiration lighting up Nizampur, and determination etched into every textbook he touches, Ramkeval is more than just a student—he's a symbol of hope that shines brighter than any wedding light ever could.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
‘Carried lights at wedding to earn Rs 250': UP teen becomes first to clear class 10 exam in his village since Independence
LUCKNOW: In the season of celebrations of academic feats when scores of students vie for the topper's slot, a Barabanki village, 30 km from Lucknow, is feting a 15-year-old Ramkeval who has become the first villager to pass the class 10 board exams from his village ever. Ramkeval hails from Nizampur village , which has a population of around 300, primarily from the Dalit community . The eldest of four siblings, he did odd jobs during the day to support his family and burnt the midnight oil to prepare for the exams. Ramkeval shared that he used to carry lights in wedding processions and earned Rs 250 to 300 per day. Barabanki district magistrate Shashank Tripathi on Sunday honoured Ramkeval and his parents in recognition of his achievement. He also assured him of all the help in his studies. 15-yr-old Ramkeval carried lights in wedding processions to earn Rs 250 'We have been trying to map out such areas where families are struggling to get basic education till class 10 and 12. In this particular case, district inspector of schools OP Tripathi was looking after the child and ensured that he was regular at school,' said the DM. Ramkeval said that his mother cooks food in a school, and his father works as a labourer to support the family. 'I used to carry lights in wedding processions and earned Rs 250 to 300 per day to support them,' he said. 'Despite returning late at night, I would study for at least two hours under a solar lamp at home. Some people in the village used to mock me, saying I would never pass high school. But I always believed I would prove them wrong,' Ramkeval, who studied at the Government Inter College in Ahmedpur near Nizampur, said. Despite the family being barely able to make both ends meet, Ramkeval's other three siblings are enrolled in school: one is in class nine, another in five, and the youngest one in class 1. His mother Pushpa Devi said, 'We have barely enough to eat and have to struggle for simple things. We don't want this life for our children. And we believe education is going to change that.' DIOS OP Tripathi praised the student's determination, saying, 'He was the only student who appeared for the board examination from his village. We encouraged his parents to send him to school. We used to take his weekly and monthly tests and show his good performance in the tests to his parents. These tests not only increased his confidence level but also made him well prepared for the boards,' he added. 'Though there are several government schools within 2-3 km in Nizampur village, enrollments have never been high. People are mostly poor and work as daily wagers or labourers,' the DIOS added. 'I take full responsibility for supporting his future education so he can realise his dreams. He is a role model for students who feel disheartened about education,' he said. Meanwhile, other students in the village, like Lovelesh and Mukesh – who failed to pass the exam this year – have renewed their resolve to study harder, inspired by Ramkeval.
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Business Standard
05-05-2025
- General
- Business Standard
15-yr-old boy becomes first to clear Class 10 in UP village since 1947
You often hear about brilliant students who topped tough exams like NEET, UPCS, CBSC or ICS. But rarely does a student make headlines simply for passing the 10th-grade exam. This is true for 15-year-old Ramkeval, a student from Nizampur village in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district. He became the first student in his village who passed the 10th class exam since India's independence. A story of not giving up Nizampur is a small village of around 300 people, most of them from the Dalit community. Until now, no one in the village had ever passed Class 10. Ramkeval, the oldest of four siblings, has changed that. To support his poor family, he did odd jobs during the day, like carrying lights at weddings etc. He earned about ₹250 to ₹300 a day. Even though he came home late, he studied for two hours every night using a solar lamp. 'Some people in the village made fun of me and said I would fail,' Ramkeval said. 'But I always believed I could prove them wrong,' he added. He studied at the Government Inter College in Ahmedpur, near his village. Family's hard life, mother's pride His mother, Pushpa, is a cook at the local primary school. She studied only till Class 5 but wants her children to go further. 'I'm very proud of my son,' she said. His father, Jagdish, works as a daily labourer. 'I didn't get to study, but I always supported my son. Even after work, he would come home and study,' he said. Honour and encouragement On Sunday, District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi honoured Ramkeval and his parents for their inspiring story. He promised full support to help Ramkeval continue his education. District Inspector of Schools, O P Tripathi, praised him. 'He is an inspiration for other students. We will help him achieve his dreams,' he said. A dream to become an engineer Ramkeval wants to become an engineer but still cannot believe he passed Class 10. 'It feels like a dream,' he said. His success has motivated other students in the village. Lovelesh and Mukesh, who couldn't pass this year, now want to work harder. Lovelesh's father, Nanku, said, 'I only studied till Class 8. I don't want my son to be a labourer like me. Education is the only way forward.' Even the women in the village now feel more hopeful. They are ready to send their children to school and support their education.
News18
05-05-2025
- General
- News18
In UP's Nizampur, One Teen's Class 10 Score Breaks Generations Of Illiteracy
Last Updated: With no electricity and only a shed to study in, a Dalit teen from Barabanki became the first in his village to pass the Class 10 board exam, inspiring others to follow Nizampur, a small village in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, located a 35-minute ride from Lucknow, has witnessed many changes over the years. However, this one is being described as historic — for the first time ever, a student has successfully passed the Class 10 board examination. That student is 15-year-old Ramsevak, a Dalit boy whose modest score of 55 per cent has sent ripples of hope and transformation through a village long untouched by educational achievement. On Monday, the District Magistrate of Barabanki felicitated Ramsevak for breaking barriers and becoming the first person in the village to pass the board examinations. Nizampur, a hamlet of around 30 households and 250–300 residents, falls under the Bani Kodar block in Ramsanehighat tehsil and is part of the Ahmedpur gram panchayat. Predominantly inhabited by families from Dalit communities, the village's economy rests entirely on daily-wage labour, with most adults working in nearby towns or migrating seasonally for employment. Education has historically taken a back seat in this marginalised community. Until this year, not a single student from the village had successfully cleared the high school board exams. That changed in 2025 when Ramsevak — also known in official records as Ramkeval, son of Jagdish Prasad — defied all odds to rewrite the village's history. A JOURNEY MARKED BY STRUGGLE Ramsevak's story is one of extraordinary determination. The eldest of five siblings, he juggled his studies with backbreaking work to help support his family. During the wedding season, he would earn Rs 200–300 a night by carrying portable road lights at marriage processions. On other days, he worked on construction sites or in the fields. Despite these responsibilities, he carved out time to study late into the night under a thatched shed, lit only by a solar lamp provided under an MLA development scheme—his home still lacks electricity. 'When I came back late at night from work, I would sit under the shed and study. I would note down anything I did not understand and ask my teachers the next day," Ramsevak told News18. He studied at the Government Inter College in Ahmedpur, about 500 metres from the village. 'People often mocked me. They used to say I would never pass, but I was determined to prove them wrong," he said. Ramsevak's hard work bore fruit when he passed the Class 10 board exams with a score of 55 per cent. It was not just a personal triumph—it was a landmark moment for the entire village. The District Magistrate of Barabanki, Shashank Tripathi, invited him to a special meeting on Monday. However, there was a problem—Ramsevak did not own a pair of shoes or decent clothes to wear. Teachers at his school pooled money to buy him a new outfit and a pair of shoes—the first he had ever worn. 'My toes were too spread out from years of walking barefoot. It was difficult to fit them into the shoes," he said, laughing. At the meeting, the DM praised Ramsevak's perseverance and announced that his further education fees would be waived. 'He asked me how I studied. When I told him everything, he said, 'Keep studying with dedication. Your fees from now on will be covered,'" he further explained. A FAMILY'S DREAM Ramsevak's mother, Pushpa Devi, who works as a cook at the local primary school, said: 'I studied only till Class 5. I never imagined any of my children could pass Class 10. We're struggling financially and often take loans just to pay school fees and buy books. But today, all that hardship feels worth it." His father, Jagdish Prasad, is a daily labourer. 'I couldn't study. I've always done manual work," he said. 'Ramsevak works with me sometimes, but he always makes time to study." Ramsevak has two younger brothers and two sisters. One brother is in Class 9, another in Class 5, and his youngest sister is just starting Class 1. Their eldest sister is already married. A SPARK OF CHANGE Ramsevak's achievement has breathed new life into the village's relationship with education. Two other boys from the village—Lovelesh and Mukesh—also appeared for the Class 10 exams this year but did not pass. Still, they are inspired. 'I failed this year, but I will try again," said Lovelesh, whose father, Nanku, is a farmer. 'My brother studied till Class 9. I want to go further and not end up doing manual labour like our elders," he added. Ramsevak dreams of becoming an engineer, though he still struggles to believe that such a future is possible. 'It feels strange to even say it aloud," he admitted. 'But maybe, just maybe, it can happen." As Nizampur awakens to the value of education, one thing is certain—Ramsevak's 55 per cent has scored a hundred in inspiration. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Class 10 board exam uttar pradesh Location : Lucknow, India, India First Published: May 05, 2025, 18:15 IST
