The results of West Bengal High Madrasah Board's final exam announced on Saturday showed how two students from Murshidabad overcame economic hardship to grab the first two spots.
Asik Ikbal, 16, of Beldanga, came first, and Nasiruddin Molla, 16, of Raninagar, who followed Asiq, are sons of daily wage earners whose monthly income seldom crosses Rs 5,000.
But poverty never deterred the two teenagers from studying hard.
While Asik, the son of a scrap-seller at Bhabda village of Beldanga, secured 780 marks out of 800, Nasiruddin, whose father is a construction worker from Raninagar's Benipur, scored 775.
A student of Bhabda Azizia High Madrasah in Beldanga, Asik secured 100 in mathematics, physical science and Islam parichay. He scored 99 in life science, 97 in geography, 95 both in history and Bengali and 94 in English.
Nasiruddin, who studied at the Komnagar High Madrasah, scored 98 in mathematics, physical science, history, geography and Bengali. He got 96 both in English and Islam parichay and 93 in life science.
"I expected to do well but topping was beyond my imagination. I am grateful to my teachers, and my father Yamin in particular, who despite financial hardship always encouraged me," said Asik, who wants to become a doctor.
Nasiruddin also said he was grateful to his teachers and his father Rustom.
"My father is my inspiration. He manages a family of six members on his meagre income cheerfully," said the teen who wants to become an administrative officer. "I want to join the civil services and work for my country," Nasiruddin said.