Dhanraj and Prema at the felicitation programme on Friday. Picture by UB Photos

March 8: Prema Jayakumar, the daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver who topped the nation-wide chartered accountancy examination this year, was among the city students chanting her success mantra.

“I have to do it and I will do it, was my determination. Nothing is impossible. What is required is determination,” said 24-year-old Prema, who plans to join the corporate world after her studies.

Prema, who arrived in the city yesterday with her brother Dhanraj and mother Lingammal, was felicitated by several organisations on International Women’s Day today. “Only one day is celebrated as Women’s Day. But I think every day should be a special day for women,” she said.

Everywhere, as soon as she stepped onto the stage, people stood up to show respect to her willpower that steered her academic life amid financial hardship.

One of the programmes — a talk show on Women’s Empowerment and Bharatiyam — was organised by Byatikram Mass Awareness and Social Development Organisation (MASDO), an NGO, at the District Library auditorium. Its president Saumen Bharatiya said chief minister Tarun Gogoi had met Prema yesterday and promised to sponsor her education from this year.

Prema also interacted with the students of Royal Group of Institutions.

She spoke of how she wished to see her parents better off and leading a more relaxed life. However, she stressed that she never wished for her father to give up his profession, for he had taught them the dignity of labour.

Prema’s father hails from Tamil Nadu and lives in a chawl in Malad, Mumbai. She did her graduation from Nagindas Khandwala College.

Although Prema’s family is not well off, she benefited from several scholarships from her graduation days onwards, which she listed proudly. “I was given a scholarship from my classes, as I got a rank in my BCom exam,” she said.

Recalling how her mother encouraged her to study, she said, “My parents helped me a lot. My mother never allowed me to do household work to provide me a good environment for study. Because of that I could concentrate on studies.”

Prema’s mother, Lingammal, recalled the day her daughter’s result was out. “When I heard her result, tears rolled down my face. I was sure she would pass the examination but never imagined that she would top it.”

Prema’s brother Dhanraj had also appeared for the CA examination and came out with flying colours.