Away from the spotlight that shone on this year’s SSLC toppers is a quiet bunch of students who overcame exceptional circumstances to make a mark in the examination.
Kamali, a visually challenged student, scored an impressive 438 marks out of 500 and is the topper at the Ananda Ranga Pillai Government Special School for differently-abled children, Pillaichavady.
“Her parents attribute her success to hard work. She will take up Arts group and wants to become a teacher,” said Kannadasan, a senior teacher. The school, which has visually challenged and hearing-impaired students, has been getting a 100 per cent pass percentage for the last three years. The residential school, which does not charge fees, has students from Marakkanam and Viluppuram.
V. Dheysian, who bagged the second rank in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Higher Secondary School, Ariyankuppam, is a little disappointed as he got six marks short of 490. He should be proud, though, as his family is supported by the meagre income his father earns a labourer in a chemical factory. Dheysian also got full marks in Maths and Science, and achieved all of this without any extra tuition. He has participated in athletics and long jump in State-level competitions.
M. Dhinesh’s father expired three years ago from tuberculosis. His mother, who works as a housemaid, is the only source of income for the family. Having scored 60 per cent in the examination, he wants to take up the Commerce stream in Class 11 and get into banking.
There is certain earnestness which comes through when A. Vijisha says she wants to become a doctor. She lost her younger brother, aged 2, to illness, and her mother is physically challenged and has only recently recovered from mental distress. Vijisha, who enjoys playing chess, scored 447 marks and is a student of the Sinnatha Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Muthialpet. Her father, a tailor, is the sole breadwinner and the family lives in Solai Nagar.
A. Gayathiri, who scored 428 marks, is clear about why she wants to study medicine. Gayathiri and her two siblings are supported by her mother, a tailor, with limited financial means.
Their father passed away due to cardiac arrest. She enjoys throwball in her free time.
Dheysian, Dhinesh, Vijisha and Gayathiri get some financial support from NGO Sharana’s sponsorship programme.
There are many others like them, who may not have won the State ranks but are achievers in their own right.
They have not done just themselves, family or school proud; the stories of their achievement against the odds could inspire scores of similarly less privileged students elsewhere.
