• Youngsters who spin tales of grit & determination
    Times of India | 9 May 2026
  • Kolkata: Be it financial constraints or severe health issues, nothing could stop these youngsters from scoring high in Madhyamik, paving the way for their journey towards realising their career dreams.

    Jodhpur Park Boy's School Arnab Naskar was a regular youngster until his father suddenly met with an accident, which turned their fate overnight. But he never let the consequent uncertainty and emotional stress stop him from working on his dream of becoming a doctor. The teenager from Sapuipara has scored 681 out of 700 in Madhyamik. "My father was once a driver with stable income. In 2020, he met with an accident, which left him bedridden with a spine injury." The onus of earning fell on his mother, who worked at a photocopy shop and carried out house renovation and painting work. The 17-year -old said, "My next goal is to crack NEET and become a doctor."

    Hindu School student Priyangshu Banerjee contracted tuberculosis and had to be hospitalised for six months, during which he had to miss his pre-board tests. The 16-year-old, who scored 514, said, "I have asthma since birth. My family, teachers and friends are my support system. I am grateful to my headmaster who allowed me to take the boards without having appeared for pre-boards," he said. Banerjee, too, wants to become a doctor. "The doctors at the hospital I was admitted were an inspiration."

    Adipta Basak, a student from Naraindas Bangur Memorial Multipurpose School, whose survives on a monthly income of 5,000, turned hardship into success, scoring 669. Despite limited resources and constant financial constraints, Basak never gave up. "My father works in an undershirt factory. I could not afford tuition classes but my brother helped me prepare for the boards."

    For these achievers, Madhyamik was more than just an exam. It became a test of endurance, discipline, and hope.
  • Link to this news (Times of India)