Eswari’s father, a lorry driver, rushed from Madhya Pradesh, in anticipation of his daughter’s performance in the SSLC exams. S. Eswari did make him proud by standing second in the State and Tiruchi district. His only regret was that her mother was not there to share the moment. The girl, who lost her mother as an infant, has balanced cooking for her family and her studies.
Interestingly, all district toppers this year are all State-rank holders. In the long list of State ranks this year, Tiruchi’s kitty is 13, including the two State first ranks, two second ranks, and nine third ranks (only students with Tamil as a subject are considered for the official State rank). Their pick is the Biology-maths stream and most of them aspire to become cardiologists.
M. Gayathri of Montfort Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Manjampatti, and D. Marcia Sherin of the same school carried the top honours in the district and shared the State rank with seven others in the State. The former scored three centums while the latter scored four. R. Rengasri, who took Sanskrit stood first among non-Tamil toppers, and aspires to become an engineer.
The second State rank in the district was shared by S. Eswari of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Matric H.S.S. and M.Gayathri of Sowdambiga Matric H.S.S, Thuraiyur who scored 497. Four of the nine State third ranks in the district were secured by the S.R.V HSS , Samayapuram. R. Divyalakshana, V.Gayathri, A. Janani and the lone wolf, the only boy in the list, K.R. Vijay, all scored 496. K. Chinthamani Sakkammal of St. Philomena’s Girls H.S.S. A.P. Mohana Priya of St. James Matric HSS, S. Nivetha of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Matric H.S.S, P. Pratickshaa of Lakshmi Matric H.S.S, Manapparai and S.Sangeetha of Arokiyanatha Matric H.S.S, Karumandapam also came third.