“I always
felt that if the boys of this village can do it, why can’t I?” says Deepa, one
of the 18 students and the only girl of the Patwatoli village of Gaya in Bihar, who cracked the JEE
advanced exam and secured a seat in the most prestigious engineering college of
the country, IIT.
As Deepa narrates the story of her success, it is evident that although she is
elated with what she has achieved, this success has not come to her as a
surprise. It seems as if she always knew that this moment was destined to come.
In the year 1991, Jitendra was the first student from this village of cloth
weavers, who made it to the prestigious institution. The number then grew to
three in 1998 and the village has not looked back since then.
While lakhs of students across the country spend huge amount of money every
year for the preparations of such exams and still fail to survive in the
cut-throat competition, what is so special about this village that despite of
lack of basic resources and amenities, the students have been creating history
year after year?
The village Patwatoli, as the name suggests is a village of Patwas, a cast known for
weaving clothes since ages. “Our forefathers used to weave clothes with hands,
and then we shifted to these big machines” says a mill owner pointing to the
half rusted machines of his mill. “But the lack of electricity, lack of new
technology and increasing competition in the market worsened our condition”, he
explains.
It was the idea of giving good education to the children that came as a savior
for the patwas. Parents started encouraging their children to study and their
children didn’t disappoint them.
But amidst all these glories, the one thing that the successful students have
always nurtured is the basic idea of weaving. Those who cracked the exams and
landed up in good institutions and highly paid jobs did not leave their village
for a lavish life. They still come back every year to teach the other
aspirants. Together they have weaved a pool of bright, successful and
intellectual people who have made each and every person of this village proud.
The 18 students selected this year are also eager to take this legacy forward.
This has happened for more than a decade in this area, so what’s new this year?
Ask anyone around in the village and they’ll proudly say “It’s a girl this
time”.
As Deepa narrates the story of her success, it is evident that although she is
elated with what she has achieved, this success has not come to her as a
surprise. It seems as if she always knew that this moment was destined to come.
In the year 1991, Jitendra was the first student from this village of cloth
weavers, who made it to the prestigious institution. The number then grew to
three in 1998 and the village has not looked back since then.