Three students overcome all odds to crack HS exam

Guwahati: Defying all odds, several students in Assam excelled with flying colours in the Class 12 boards, the results of which were declared on Tuesday by Assam Higher Secondary Education Council, and gave a meaning to their parents’ years of hard work.
While sixth rank-holder Nandita Das’s mother took care of her and gave her education by working as a domestic help, Orang’s Someswar Khodal and Dibrugarh’s Karunajyoti Konch had to work as a daily wager to buy books, copies and pens as well as ran their families. Nothing could distract them from focussing on studies though they had faced immense hardships.
Nandita’s father Raju Das sells different spices door to door and her mother Anita works as a domestic help to run their household. The family lives on rent in Jorhat’s Borbheta Naosolia. “Though my parents have been working so hard, they never let me struggle. They never let me feel the difficulties and always asked me to focus on my studies so that I can build a good career and help improve the financial condition of my family,” she added.
Nandita passed the Class 12 boards in commerce stream from CKB Commerce College. She plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree from the same institution.
Meanwhile, Khodal, who lost his father a couple of years ago and has his sick mother and an elder brother, cleared the exam with 75% marks. “I work as a daily wager and that is how I purchased books, copies and pens for my study. Sometimes I work as a helper with a mason, sometimes I work in a sawmill. I also look after my mother, who is ill,” he added.
Villagers gathered in his house after his results came out and felicitated him. The villagers said they would help him if he wants to pursue higher education.
Karunajyoti Konch of Dibrugarh’s Hahorial village also has a story to tell like Someswar. Karunajyoti also had to work as a daily wager sometimes to arrange money to buy his study materials. He said his relatives and neighbours along with the teachers had helped him a lot in his journey.