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A Dalit village with 48 IITians
Published on Sun, Jun 04, 2006 at 21:40, Updated on Mon, Jun 05, 2006 at 08:58 in 
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Gaya (Bihar): Patwatoli, a Dalit village in Gaya district has as many as 48 students who have made it to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Four of them made it this year alone.
The village has perpetual power crisis but the IIT aspirants study together and are coached by their successful seniors.
Sandip Kumar, who has just cleared his Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) exam, also helps his father in his small garment factory.
"We can't study at night because there is no electricity but then seniors always guide us," Sandeep says.
Sandeep's father is happy and hoping his son moves out of the village.
"He has to work with me here. It is difficult here so it is better if he studies well," Sandeep's father, Umesh Prasad, says.
The story began in 1992 when the first student from village cleared the exam and there has been no looking back since .
The successful IIT students have set up an organisation called Nav Prayas.
It helps aspirants from the village prepare for the exam for who, preparing for this exam is a group activity here led by those who have already made it.
"Nav Prayas is doing good social work. Seniors are our guides and they instill in us the need to compete," an IIT student, Pitambar Kumar says.
What could be the reason for Patwatoli being an IIT village?
"Everybody is very hardworking in Patwatoli. They work harder if they don't qualify the first year. I think that's the reason for so many of us qualifying," IIT student, Manish Kumar.
Patwatoli is a model for others to follow. It shows how commitment combined with concerted action can overcome toughest of odds.
(With inputs from Abhishek Kumar in Gaya).
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