Sanika skips dad’s funeral for SSC paper, scores 100%

Yavatmal: Paying last respects to her father as his body lay at home in Hivri village, 15-year-old Sanika Sudhakar Pawar overcame grief and stepped out to appear for SSC exam at Yavatmal on March 7.
On Wednesday, when the SSC results were declared, Sanika surprised everyone by her magnificent overall score of 97.60% marks with 100% in Sanskrit, the paper she had appeared on the day of her father’s funeral.
Hailing from Hivri village, 18km from Yavatmal, Sudhakar, 45, farmer with six acres of dry land and a bank loan liability, committed suicide on March 6 by jumping in a farm well, leaving behind wife, Sanika and a younger son, who is now in Std X.
While the grief-stricken family was preparing for the funeral on March 7, Sanika bowed before her father’s body and sought his blessings, left for Yavatmal and appeared in the exam.
The last rites had been over when Sanika returned home. She couldn't control herself and cried hugging her hapless mother and brother.
Touched by Sanika’s feat, Maharashtra legislative assembly speaker Nana Patole called to congratulate her. Patole also promised all help to Sanika to fulfil her father’s wish of seeing her as a doctor.
On Friday, district collector MD Singh invited Sanika to his office and felicitated her in the presence of new chief executive officer of Yavatmal Zilla Parishad Shreekrishna Panchal. Singh also promised to take care of educational expenses of Sanika, who also has plans to go for IAS.