Studying by candlelight, UP boy aces Class X exam with perfect 10

BAREILLY: Hundreds of students in Bareilly district have scored a perfect 10 CGPA but 16year-old Rampal Verma stands apart. It has taken him sweat and tears to join the ranks of the toppers in the district, studying by candlelight and going to a neighbour's house when the candle melted.

The son of a poor farmer, Rampal's father Bhagwan Das earns about Rs 2,000 a month, toiling in the fields of Pilibhit.But this never deterred his father, a school dropout, from aspiring for proper education for his three children, who he sent to Bareilly and enrolled in good private schools.

Giving credit to his father for his success, Rampal said, “My father always wanted us to get proper education and hence, he got me enrolled in a reputed private school. He borrows money at 5 per cent interest to pay for our schooling and pays back the loan after harvesting the sugarcane crop. However, this time, we are yet to pay the fees of Class X. As I am good in studies, school officials allowed me to write the exams.“ Rampal is a student of Woodrow School. He lives with his siblings in a single room in Sidharthnagar area. He shares the room with his older brother Purishotam and younger sister Hemvati.

“My father somehow managed to get an electricity connection. However, I had to study in candlelight during long power cuts. As I could not afford to use more than one candle a day , I would go to a neighbour's house to study ,“ said Rampal. He aspires to become doctor one day .

Unable to buy books, Rampal borrowed NCERT books from his seniors. He wants to take admission in Kendriya Vidyalaya to finish his schooling.