More often than not, students who top an important examination have the luxury of devoting all their time to academics without worrying about supporting their family.
Kusuma Ujjini from Indu Independent PU College in Kottur in Ballari district upended this trend. The daughter of a mechanic, who spent her spare time helping her father in his tyre fixing garage, secured 594 out of 600 marks in the second year pre-university exam, to top the State in the Arts stream. The PU results were announced on Monday.
“I aim to crack the Union Public Service Commission exam. At the same time, I want to support my father by working at his puncture shop. But for the support and motivation by my parents and teachers, I would not have topped the State,” said Kusuma.
When she had time to spare, Kusuma helped her father, and is adept at fixing flat tyres on two-wheelers. “I did not have a fixed timetable or study time. But I used to do my homework and revisions regularly. In my free time, I would help my father at his puncture shop,” she said.
Her parents were elated when they learned that she had stood first across Karnataka. Education is important for the family. Kusuma is one of five siblings: four sisters and a brother. Her eldest sister completed her M.Com and works in a private firm. Another sister earned a B.Ed degree; a third is currently doing her B.Sc, and her brother has just finished his tenth standard.
Devendrappa said, “With what I could earn (between ₹300 and ₹500 a day), along with the wages my wife earned as an agricultural labourer, I have done my best to get my children good education, and they have realised my dreams. I will continue to strive hard to ensure the continuation of Kusuma’s education.”
Several students who juggled jobs and college schedules celebrated their success on Monday.
Sharath R., a student of Hoodi government pre-university college in Bengaluru, secured first class. He worked three jobs while attending school as his mother, a single parent, eked out a living as a domestic worker. He would wake up at 4 a.m. to supply milk packets to houses in his locality. Later, he would distribute newspapers. After attending class, he worked in a ration shop from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. “I contributed around ₹10,000 to the household expenses. I could have bagged a distinction if I did not have to do these chores” he said.
Bhargavi Vishnu Prasad from New Fort Government PU College bagged 84.5% in the second pre-university examinations. While she would spend her mornings in her college, she would offer tuitions to primary class students in the evenings and also help her mother who is a flower seller. Her father is a supervisor in the construction industry. “I knew that I had to supplement the family income, but I wanted to get good marks so I made sure that I would come back home and study everything that was taught in class the same day,” she said.