
JYOTSNA DAS AND MINTU ROY
School: Bidhannagar Santoshini Vidyachakra
Jyotsna and Mintu are visually impaired and orphans. They have been staying at the hostel of Bhimbar Snehashram Drishtihin Vidyalaya, a private school for the visually impaired in Bidhannagar, about 40km from Siliguri.
They studied from Class I to VIII in the school for visually impaired and joined Bidhannagar Santoshini Vidyachakra from where they appeared for Madhyamik.
“My parents died when I was around three years of age and since then, we have been staying at the hostel of the private school for the visually impaired here. The school provided us with Braille books that made it easier to study. But it was difficult to get such books in the other school where we studied Class IX and X. However, the teachers there were helpful and explained the lessons to me whenever I had any difficulty. I express my gratitude to teachers of both my schools,” Jyotsna said.
Jyotsna wants to take up humanities in Plus II and wants to become a teacher someday and Mintu wants to become a singer.
“I want to continue my studies but I also enjoy singing. If all goes well, I dream of becoming a singer in future. As for Jyotsna she wants to be a teacher,” Mintu said.
MANASHI PRAMANIK
School: Shyamsukhi Girls’ High School, Gajole, Malda
Manashi, the daughter of a barber who runs a roadside stall near Gajole bus stand, scored 676 out of 700.
The student of Shyamsukhi Girls' High School in Gajole was helped by her teachers who taught her free of cost.
“Five-six of my teachers helped me with private tuitions. I used to study five-six hours everyday. I like reading detective novels and listening to music,” Manashi said.
Her brother Rajesh is a graduate and he is preparing for competitive exams to get a government job.
The Pramanik family stays at Sukantapally area of Gajole, around 40km from Malda town, and Manashi's father Niranjan is the only bread earner.
“We appreciate that he encouraged both his children to continue their studies,” said a neighbour.
Manashi said she wants to become a doctor. “My father has worked hard for us and he wants me to become a doctor. I want to fulfil his dreams and treat people in villages,” she said.
Asked what she wants for herself, Manashi said: “I want a mobile phone.”
SIKIT MINZ
School: Jalpaiguri High School, Jalpaiguri
Sikit and his two brothers became orphans 13 years ago when a wild tusker entered their hutment and killed their mother.
Urmila, their mother and a worker of Madhu Tea Estate in Alipurduar’s Kalchini, was a widow as her husband Mahabir, who used to work in a coal mine in Meghalaya, had died in 2001.
After their mother’s death, none of their relatives came forward to take responsibility of the three boys.
Since then, Sikit, along with his brothers Ishiq and Bikit, stayed at Korak, a home for destitute boys in Jalpaiguri.
Sikit is the youngest and passed Madhyamik this year. His elder brothers have appeared for their higher secondary exam from Jalpaiguri High School.
“We have no teacher here in the shelter home. The seniors helped me ahead of the exams. I will continue my education and all three of us want to join in government jobs in the future,” Sikit said.
NIDHI SUTRADHAR
School: Islampur Girls’ High School, Islampur
Daughter of a puffed rice (muri) seller, Nidhi stays with her family in a hut provided by the state government under a housing scheme for the BPL families.
She is a student of Islampur Girls' High School and has scored 600 marks.
Her father Nitai Chandra sits on the footpath of the local market of Islampur and sells puffed rice. She did not have private tuitions and was helped by teachers of her school ahead of exams. The family stays at Thana Colony in Islampur.
“My aunt Sumita, who is a computer teacher on contract at my school, is the key person to help me continue my studies. My parents were always with me and despite financial constraints, they never told me to stop my education. I want to study in science stream at the higher secondary level,” said the girl.
The principal deterrent to her higher studies is lack of money. Teachers of her school have encouraged her and said they will extend all possible help so that Nidhi can settle in her life.
Compiled by our correspondents in Malda, Jalpaiguri, Islampur and Siliguri