Tale of three who braved poverty,hardship to excel in boards

A month before his board exams (general stream),his father Mohanbhai,a hospital ward boy,lost his job when the district administration decided to shut down the trust-run T B Hospital on the Gondal road near Kotharia village. A school dropout,Mohanbhai,in need of a job to feed his family,settled for a labourer’s job at a plastic factory in Shapar.

The hardships of life — a one-room house in the compound of the T B Hospital where he lived with his family and no money to buy reference books — could not discourage Aakash. When the results were announced on Thursday,he stood second in the state with 93.43 per cent,scoring 98 in economics and statistics,and 97 in accounts.

“There were so many adversities. I was aware how my life was different from my classmates. But I had one goal and I remained focused,” says Aakash.

It was not easy to focus when his father lost his job,but the family stood by Aakash. “Nobody would disturb me when I would be reading. They all would keep quiet to let me study,” said Aakash who aims to become a chartered accountant.

Vishal Mochi: Son of a tailor,who borrowed money to buy him a bike.

Vishal’s father Arvind was so confident about his son’s success in commerce stream that he bought a bike for him a day before the results. Arvind is a tailor and earns barely Rs 4,000 a month.

On Thursday,Arvind proved right. His son,a student of Sardar Vallabhbhai Vidyalaya in Vadodarat,secured the fourth position in the state.

“He never took tuitions. He even helped his sister Khushboo,who is now in the ninth standard,with her studies. I could never study beyond primary school. I had to earn for the family. I just wanted my children to study,come what may,” says Arvind.

“Vishal is a hard worker. Till now,he cycled his way to his school which is quite far. I thought he should get a motorcycle to attend his classes for a CA course. For that,I had to borrow from relatives and use all savings.”

“I want to become a Chartered Accountant. I am keen to study in the UK. I want to take my parents there. Though I did reasonably well in science subjects in Class X,I opted for commerce. It is a subject of my choice,” says Vishal

Pooja Madhwani: She cannot afford to enrol for CA course.

Three classmates and friends in Hari Sewa H S Girls Vidyalaya were happy to see their names in Vadodara’s top 10 list of HSC general stream. But one of them,Pooja,fourth in the city,will have to give up her aspirations to become a chartered accountant — her father died of cancer. “My husband had a tea stall at Khanderao market,but now he is no more. Pooja always did well. She secured about 85 per cent in her Class X. But she cannot study any further,” says Pooja’s mother,Meena Madhwani.

She adds ,“We had to sell our tea shop. My son works at a readymade shop at Alkapuri and earns around Rs 4,000 a month.” Pooja could pay towards her tuition fees with the help of relatives,she says,adding,“I wish Pooja could become a chartered accountant.”

Pooja says,“Because of poor financial condition of my family,I cannot enrol myself for a CA course. I am joining B Com course.”

Pooja’s classmate Sonia Wadhwani,who stood third in Vadodara,says,“I was always second to Pooja. She,Heena,who stood fifth in the city,and I have studied together since childhood.”