BIHAR : For an officer of the Indian Post Payments Bank, life’s ambition did not end with securing a government job. For Sushil Kumar, 40, the mission has been to build careers for rural youths crippled by poverty, just as he once was.
Born in Baikathpur village under Musahari block of Muzaffarpur district, Sushil is the son of a small vegetable grower. Financial hardship marked his childhood and shaped his resolve. After years of struggle, he finally secured a government job in 2009-10, a turning point.
“Although I had primarily focussed on my job, it always haunted my mind to do something for others,” Sushil said. That impulse took concrete form on Republic Day in 2015, when he convened a meeting with the youths of his native village to discuss ways to help students prepare for competitive examinations. Around 25 to 30 students initially agreed to attend free coaching classes. His elder brother, Santosh Kumar, and cousin, Shiv Shankar, volunteered to teach aspirants without charging any fee.
An entrance test was conducted to identify serious candidates, and the enrolment process took nearly three months. Books and study materials were arranged. “I used to guide students preparing for various competitive examinations,” he said.
Within a year, the effort yielded results. Two candidates were selected as technicians in the Indian Railways, validating the experiment and spreading the message across nearby villages. Aspirants targeting the Railways, Defence services and CAPF soon joined the initiative, later named ‘Pahal Group.’
Balancing official duties with social work became challenging as numbers swelled. Sushil appointed group coordinators and continued to bear expenses for books and materials. A larger building was arranged to ensure proper classes, which were held daily between 6 pm and 9.30 pm. Jitendra Kumar emerged as the first success story, securing a technician’s post in the Indian Railways.
The ‘Pahal Group’ restricts enrolment to students from economically weaker sections. “The idea is that talented students don’t fall victim to economic constraints,” Sushil said.
His conviction is rooted in personal loss. He recalled that he could not pursue higher education outside Bihar due to poverty. His father, Sohan Sah, sold vegetables for a living, while his mother, Ram Viraji Devi, managed the household. Second among three siblings, Sushil studied at a government school in Salha before moving to Muzaffarpur for higher secondary education and graduation from RDS College.
“I wanted to pursue an MBA from a reputable institute in Delhi, but my family could not afford the tuition fees and other expenses. I had to drop my studies midway,” he recalled.
The setback hardened his resolve to secure employment first. He prepared for banking services, cleared the exam and later completed an MBA from Manipal University. The impact of ‘Pahal Group’ has been tangible. More than 35 associated candidates have secured government jobs across sectors. And in response to growing community support, the free coaching centre has moved to a local community hall.