Santosh Madiwal of Kamathana village in Bidar may not have scored 100 per cent in his SSLC exam, but his story is no less inspiring than that of the toppers.
The student of the Government Kannada Medium School at Kamathana, who irons clothes for a living, has scored 80 per cent marks. His mother, Sharadamma, who works as a domestic help, raised him after his father died when he was in class 1.
Santosh said he learnt to iron clothes from a “master” in Bidar when he was in class 7. He continued to study after setting up his own ironing shop in Bidar around three years ago. Explaining his routine, he said he would take a bus to Bidar every morning and work for two hours. He would then leave for school and return to work late in the afternoon. He would work for another four hours before heading home. “I want to study commerce and become a banker,” Santosh said.
Want to become doctor
Similar is the story of Vijayalakshmi Solankar. Her father died when she was young and her mother, a farmhand, struggled to send her two children to school. After completing class 5 in a private school at Aliambar village, she cleared the entrance examination for admission to the Morarji Desai Residential School. She has scored 95 per cent in SSLC and wants to become a doctor.
Beerappa Shivarj Torne’s is among the highest scorers in the State. He got 622 out of 625 marks in SSLC. His father is a landless sheep-rearer at Mehkar village in Bhalki. He joined the Sri Channabasaveshwar Gurukul at Karadyal village in Bhalki taluk for class 5. He wants to become a doctor and work in a charitable hospital.
Always a topper
Vaishnodevi Mallikarjun Biradar’s from Kadlabad walked around 6 km every day to attend the gurukul. Always topping her class, she has scored 622 out of 625. Another one from the gurukul to score 622 is Pramod Jaiwant Kulkarni, a student from a Marathi-speaking family, who has scored 125 in Kannada.
Balaji Babu Reddy from a Telugu family in Telangana has scored 125 marks in Kannada. He has scored 621 marks out of 625.
