Ajay R. Raj of St. Thomas Central School here, who topped the differently abled category countrywide in the CBSE Class 12 exam, surmounted many obstacles on his way to academic excellence.
Despite suffering from partial visual impairment, caused by a nerve disorder, while he was in Class 4, Ajay hopes to teach English literature and work for rural development.
Hailing from Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode, he relocated to Thiruvananthapuram two years ago to pursue humanities.
He secured a merit scholarship for two years and stayed in a hostel during the period.
Ajay appeared for the examinations with the assistance of a scribe.
He was provided unstinted support by his parents, N.K. Rajan, an autorickshaw driver, and homemaker Radha.
Brother’s path
That his elder brother, who suffers a similar medical condition, is pursuing PhD in Political Science at Jawaharlal Nehru University, is a huge motivation in Ajay’s mission. He aspires to pursue BA in English literature at Delhi University.
P.V. Lakshmi, of the Palghat Lions School Senior Secondary in Palakkad, who came second in the category, was unmindful of the swelling in her right hand till Class 10.
Then, the swelling worsened gradually. A medical board permitted her to appear for the Class 12 examinations under the differently abled category.
IISc, the aim
Daughter of civil contractor P.R. Vaidyanathan and homemaker Brindambal, Lakshmi is aspiring to pursue BSc Maths in a leading institution, preferably IISc, Bengaluru. “I completed the exams with the help of painkillers and Ayurvedic medicines. The pain was so severe during those days. But I am happy that the hard work and determination paid off,’’ said Lakshmi.
