No barrier big enough for them

Despite odds,Diksha inspires others to be happy

Financial barriers could not stand in Diksha Arora’s way,as she scored 88 per cent in Class XII CBSE examination. Daughter of a vendor who earns his daily bread from selling cosmetics on a makeshift bed in one of the markets in Panchkula,Diksha is a role model for children her age in neighbourhood. Apart from concentrating on studies,Diksha also helps her mother in stitching clothes to contribute financially towards her house. “She used to study late at night after helping her mother in kitchen chores and stitching work. I have always taught her to become a good human being and earn goodwill in whatever she does,” said her father Raj Kumar. Not only good at studies,she also sings well. “At some point in my life,if I get a chance to learn singing professionally,I would definitely grab that opportunity. But at the moment,my priority is education and to start earning to support my family. I would like to give my parents all the comforts,which they longed for,” says Diksha with a smile on her face.

Diksha is also a favourite among her teachers. “She is a very cheerful person. Despite all odds,she never lets sadness or remorse come on her face. She inspires others to be happy,” said GMSSS-Manimajra Principal Asha Jindal.

‘Want to fulfil my father’s wish,join the Army’

After his father,Ambadutt Tiwari,died of cardiac arrest five years ago,his mother lost all hope. But Girish has made her mother,Parvati,who runs her family by working as a domestic help,a proud woman. He scored 86 per cent in Class XII ISC in the non-medical stream.He owes his success to more than the concession in the fee his school—St Xavier’s,Sector 44— and gives credit to the support from his teachers and friends. “It is because of their help that I have been able to score this much,without any extra coaching,” he says. Apart from studies,Girish also represented Chandigarh in the national basketball championships in 2007 and 2008.“I do not want to become an engineer. My father always wanted me to join the Army and I would pursue his dream after I finish my graduation,” he says. Brigadier R S Gill (retd),where Girish’s mother works as a domestic help,has been an inspiration for Girish.

She wants her parents to be known by her name

“All I want is that my parents should be known by my name,” says Sunaina,the only daughter of a daily wage labourer. A student of GMSSS-Mani Majra,Sunaina scored 80.3 per cent in the CBSE Class XII Commerce examination. The result was declared on Wednesday.

Gyan Chand,Sunaina’s father,is the only bread winner of the family. Both her parents are uneducated but want their daughter to study as much as she wants. “I will never force Sunaina to follow any particular field. She is free to choose any career she wants. She worked hard and scored much more than what she did in Class X. I would like her to constantly work hard,” he said. “My parents have provided me whatever they could and I understand that after a point,I can’t be demanding and ask for things that are difficult for my parents to manage. I want to work hard,so that I can earn and support my parents,” she said with determination. She wants to become CEO of a multi-national company,“because that is the person who manages the entire company.”She would also try her luck at the IAS examinations. Her mother Ambika,a housewife,said they gave her the freedom to study as much as she wants. “Though people and even our own relatives tried to persuade us to find a suitable match for her,we never thought on those lines,” she added.

‘Want to support my family’

Dinesh Kumar,son of a vegetable vendor,who scored 82.2 per cent in CBSE Class XII wants to support his family as well as complete his graduation through correspondence. Resident of New Indira Colony,Dinesh wants to relieve his father of the financial burden.“I have seen my father working day and night to bring us up and provide education to all his children. I want to support my elder brother who has appeared for inter exams for Chartered Accountancy,” says Dinesh. His younger sister is a student of Class X. “At times my parents were questioned why they were spending so much money on our education. But they never let any of us be dissuaded by these thoughts despite,” adds Dinesh. “I could have asked my sons to help me but I never did. While they have offering to assist me financially but I always motivate them to study and stand on their own feet,” says Motilal,his father.