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She was tensed and worried for her study amid poverty, but she has little idea about her achievements that now started paying for her!

Yes, it’s the unique story of  struggle by a 17 year-old a Mahadalit bricklayer for continuing her study after passing matric examination recently.

Now she became inspiration for many here and people started coming forward for her help.

Komal Kumari.

Ashish Bhrati, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Bhagalpur assured Komal Kumari  that Bhagalpur police family will help her for to continue her study and she has not to worry for her college fee and other learning materials.

Bharati who was moved with Komal, a native of Mushahari Tola  Mahadalit village located near by Ghogha railway station on Bhagalpur-Sahbeganj section and  some 18 Km east from Bhagalpur district headquarters, mainly due to her struggle for learning even working as a part-time bricklayer in nearby brick-kilns. Not only that in the 150 years’ history in Mushahari Tola hamlet, a Mahadalits’ village having a sizable population, Komal became the first to pass Bihar school examination board this time.

A student from Sindhu Mandal Girls High school, Komal secured 3 rd division but her struggle for learning and motivating others children is indeed an exemplary, said the SSP while pointing out how she has been running a free coaching school in the village with some 60 children. “Komal is from poor back ground and it’s not possible for her to continue her study further, Bhagalpur police would help her,” Bharati told.

Her father, Dipak Rishi, a daily wage labourer and mother, Buchia Devi, a part time  bricklayer at nearby brick-kilns hardly managed to arrange two square meal for their 5 children. “Just before the matric examination, I fell ill and Komal started working at the brick-kilns. She joined her duty there from 7am to 5pm and after returning home in evening she had to prepare foods and then had the times to study in the nights in Kerosene lamps. Otherwise she could have done better result,” narrated Buchia Devi.

“Initially I was very disappointed with my poor performance but when I saw my smiling faces of my parents who highly satisfied with me to pass matric examination first time in the village, I decided to continue my study. I want to become a teacher so that I could teach poor students in remote places,” she said.

Class room activities.

Pradip Vidhrohi, a Kagalgaon based social worker has started assisting Komal in how to run her free classes more systematically. “I told her also to insist her students and their parents so that the children could be enrolled in government’s primary school there.” Vidrohi said. He said that many at Kalagaon are ready to help Komol for continuing her study.

Kanchan Devi, Mukhiya (village head) of Janidih Panchyat under which jurisdiction the Mahadalit village is falling, also assured Komal to extend all possible help for the continuation of her study. “She really set an example here, we all should come forward to boost up her morals,” Kanchan Devi said.

“Komal has made us proud. Our village is far away from civilization and we all are illiterates. But we hope she will be the torchbearer for the new generation in the village,” proudly acclaimed Vinod Kumar, a youth bricklayer in the village.

Komal had applied in some local colleges including Shanker Sha Vikramshila College at Kahalgaon for her admission in intermediate class but she does not know from where she could manage admission fee and other related expenditure. “She is in deep frustration, I could not arrange the money for her study,” excused her father Dipak Rishi.

Komal however was busy as usual with her free coaching class with village children, became tearful when she was informed that she has not to worry about penury, many like SSP, Bhagalpur is ready to help her to continue her study. “I am very thankful to all of them, I hope they will help me to make my dream true- my dream to become a teacher to teach the poor children,” tears rolled down from Komal’s eyes.

Village pupils in Komal’s class.

“We are very thankful to the persons who at least recognized the struggle of Komal in a positive manner,” said Arvind Rishidev, Tola Sevak from the village. According to him the village having nearly 2000 children in 400 families. Out of them 15 children are enrolled at primary school, Mushahari while 15 another go the government middle school, Janidih. “Vikash Kumar and Diraj Kumar, two boys now reading in class ix and x only while others yet not started going to school,” Arvind pointed out.