Patna, May 12: In the darkness of power-starved, Maoist-hit Rohtas and Kaimur districts, the quest for knowledge burns bright.

Hundreds of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagars from the region flock to Sasaram railway station every evening to study and prepare for Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) and other competitive examinations.

They cycle down 10-12km from their villages to study under the light posts at the railway station, as their houses remain dark in the night. Power supply is almost occasional to their homes, at most twice a week.

The adversity has bolstered the aspiration of the youths to do better in life. The crowd at the station, in fact, is swelling, thanks to the success of four local youths in the Union Public Service Commi-ssion examination this year.

Kundan Kumar, Praveen Kumar and Sunil Kumar Gautam from Rohtas have bagged 124, 322 and 775 ranks respectively, while Avinash Kumar Singh from Kaimur has secured 136th rank in the exam.

The list of candidates clearing competitive exams from this “mobile study centre” is long. Take the case of Dr Ranjit Kumar, who got admission into the MBBS course at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, last year. A resident of Lerua village under Maoist-affected Tilauthu police station in Rohtas district, Kumar was a regular visitor to the Sasaram railway station to study in the evening as power played truant at his native village.

Yoginder Kumar, a resident of Kargahar in Rohtas district, was appointed an assistant station master last year. Another youth, Chandan Kumar topped the examination conducted by the Bihar State Electricity Board recently. Santosh Kumar, a resident of Patluka village under Tilauthu police station in Rohtas district, has been appointed assistant loco-pilot in the Railways. He is at present posted in Allahabad.

Around 300 aspirants of various competitive examinations flock to platform number 2 of Sasaram railway station after sunset everyday to study.

While some come from their remote villages, others have taken rooms on rent in the vicinity of the railway station. “You will find aspirants in groups of 25-30 engrossed in their study. The light posts at the railway station have proved to a boon for the youths, who can’t afford to bear the cost of power supply from generator sets,” said Vikas Kumar Singh, a resident of Nauhatta in Rohtas district.

Brij Bihari Ram, who has been selected in the secretariat service examination, said he attended the study sessions from 7.30pm to 10pm at the railway station. Highlighting the benefits of the studying at the station, Ram said: “There you can exchange books, attend group discussion and even adopt methods to study from others. This is the best place to prepare for competitive examinations,” he added.

About the disturbance fr-om the bustle at the station, Shashi Kumar Singh, a resident of Nauhatta, said: “It’s true that the platform is not a proper place to study. But we don’t have any other option. Power is scarce in Rohtas.”

Movement of trains on this section is less as compared to other sections. Most of the aspirants complain of water scarcity at the railway platform. “We have to bring bottles of water from our home. If the railway authorities look into the problem, it will be a great help to the students preparing for various competitions.”

A large number of students spend the night at the railway station itself. “We leave the railway platform early in the morning for home. Movement during night in Maoist-hit areas of Rohtas and Kaimur is not safe. So we study at night and carry out other work during the daytime,” said Satya Narain, an aspirant of engineering studies.

The aspirants study in the outer parts of the station, so they don’t have to buy the platform ticket as well. Moreover, the railway officials posted at the station are encouraging and helpful to the youths.

Station manager of Sasaram railway station Imam Hasan Khan said the railway officials have no problem with the students studying at the platform under the light posts. “I have come to know that some students have fared well in different state and central service examinations. We cooperate with the aspirants and ask our men not to disturb them,” he told The Telegraph over phone from Sasaram.

Sources in the Magadh division of the electricity board said on an average, 6MW to 8MW is supplied to Rohtas every day. The state receives 1000-1200MW every day.

The scant power supply to Rohtas and Kaimur, which come under Grade A of Naxalite-affected districts of the state, has only inspired the young minds of the region to pave their way from darkness to light.