In an era where preparing for competitive examinations has become highly commercialized, with students spending massive sums on offline coaching institutes and premium mobile applications, a unique educational initiative in Patna is challenging the norm. Dr. Akhilesh Kumar, a former police officer and current academician, is reshaping the concept of mentorship by offering personalized guidance to aspirants completely free of charge. Every single evening, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, he keeps his phone lines open to answer academic queries, strategize study plans, and provide direct mental support to students living in the remotest corners of the country.
Transitioning from Police Uniform to the Classroom
Dr. Akhilesh Kumar possesses a highly distinguished academic and professional background. With his education deeply rooted in biological sciences, he went on to clear highly competitive academic milestones, including the IIT GATE examination and the National Eligibility Test with Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF). Driven by a desire to serve the public, he attempted the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination and secured a stellar 9th rank statewide. This achievement led to his appointment as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Bihar Police Service.
He served in the police department for approximately six years, starting his career in the Supaul district. Later, he was posted as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Kishanganj, one of Bihar's largest and most critical sub-divisions, and also served as a Rail DSP. However, in November 2019, while stationed in Kishanganj, he chose to resign from his prestigious position in the police force. This decision was driven by a deep-seated passion to contribute to society through education. Prior to his tenure as a police officer, he had extensive experience coaching medical aspirants for the NEET examination at several renowned institutions, and he wanted to utilize that pedagogical expertise to help underprivileged students.
Balancing Daily Lectures with National Evening Mentorship
Following his resignation from the police force, Dr. Akhilesh Kumar joined the academic faculty at Patna Science College as an assistant professor. His daily routine is split between formal academic duties and his self-funded evening mentorship program. After teaching regular college classes during the day, he dedicates his post-work hours to candidates preparing for various competitive exams across India. His primary objective is to make high-quality mentorship accessible to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and rural areas who cannot afford to relocate to major educational hubs or pay exorbitant coaching fees.
The motivation to establish this direct-call helpline stemmed from his personal observation of the struggles faced by rural students due to a lack of proper strategic guidance. Having successfully cracked some of the toughest exams himself, Dr. Akhilesh realized that his personal journey and strategies could serve as a valuable blueprint for thousands of struggling students who have the talent but lack direction.
Direct Connectivity Without Apps or Commercial Barriers
The journey was not an overnight success. Initially, Dr. Akhilesh shared his mobile number on various social media platforms to reach out to students. In the beginning, the response was minimal as many students were skeptical about a former DSP offering free, personalized help. However, as word of mouth spread, the volume of inquiries grew exponentially. To manage the influx, he dedicated a fixed slot from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily. Today, his phone rings continuously during these three hours, with hundreds of students calling to discuss their preparation challenges.
A notable aspect of this initiative is its completely non-commercial nature. Dr. Akhilesh has consciously avoided developing mobile applications or launching paid courses. He prefers direct interaction through normal phone calls and, when necessary, video calls. Because he manages this entire setup independently without hiring any additional staff or establishing complex technical infrastructure, there are no overhead costs. This allows him to keep the entire mentoring service absolutely free of charge for every single aspirant.
Strategic Guidance and a Unique Approach to Study Materials
Aspirants call Dr. Akhilesh with a wide array of questions. These range from fundamental queries like selecting the right reference books, creating efficient daily study timetables, and formulating exam-day strategies, to conceptual doubts in specific subjects. Whenever a student struggles to comprehend a complex topic, Dr. Akhilesh explains it over the phone using simple, everyday analogies. When required, he also provides high-quality study materials to the students without charging any fee.
His method of distributing study material is highly unconventional. He strongly discourages spoon-feeding students with ready-made notes. Instead, if a student requests material on a specific topic, he provides them with high-quality study materials compiled from four different, reputed sources. He then instructs the student to read all four materials, perform a comparative analysis, and determine which source explains the concepts most effectively. This methodology forces students to read multiple perspectives, engage in active learning, and build a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, ultimately strengthening their analytical skills.
Twenty-Seven BPSC Success Stories
The effectiveness of this direct telephone mentorship program is reflected in the recent BPSC examination results. Twenty-seven candidates who regularly received mentorship and guidance from Dr. Akhilesh over the phone successfully cleared the prestigious state civil services exam. Many of these successful candidates visited him in Patna to express their gratitude and share their success. Despite the remarkable achievement, Dr. Akhilesh remains modest, attributing the entire success to the hard work and dedication of the students, describing his own role as merely that of a guide showing them the correct path.
A Ringing Phone and Global Reach
As the clock strikes six in the evening, Dr. Akhilesh's phone begins to ring uninterruptedly until nine. Initially, this continuous stream of calls caused minor disruptions for his family, but over time, they have become his biggest pillars of support. Family members ensure he is supplied with tea and water during these intensive three hours so that he can focus entirely on assisting the students without any distraction.
Interestingly, the reach of his helpline has expanded beyond India. Dr. Akhilesh regularly receives phone calls from individuals living abroad who are interested in competitive examinations in Bihar and other states. He frequently gets inquiries from non-resident Indians regarding the recruitment processes for university professors in Bihar. A vast majority of his daily callers are from Hindi-speaking states across India. Dr. Akhilesh hopes to expand this voluntary campaign further, ensuring that no talented student is left behind due to a lack of resources or guidance.
