Lost mother during ICSE exams,tops it with 99%

“I always knew I will get good marks,but I did not expect to be the topper in the country. I studied for four-five hours a day for a month before the exam,” Mehta,a student of Jamnabai Narsee school,Vile Parle,said.

Sudeshna Chatterjee,principal of Jamnabai Narsee School,described him as an all-rounder. “Rishi is an avid quizzer and has participated and won in several quiz and also environmental activities and photography competitions. He is not a bookworm,but an all-rounder. He is very focused and knows what he wants.”

The mood at Jamnabai school was jubilant throughout Wednesday,not just because of Mehta but also because of other students who had done ‘exceedingly well.’ “As many as 75 students received over 90 per cent while 114 scored between 80 and 90 per cent. This is our best result so far,” said Chatterjee.

What makes Mehta’s achievement sweeter is that he triumphed amid a personal tragedy. Mehta had lost his mother during his examination.

“We could just cope with it. I do not know how he could handle his studies so well. But he has been performing consistently well throughout his school years. He just did it,” said Pooja,Rishi’s sister whose standard XII (ISC) result was also announced on Wednesday. Pooja,a student of Lilavati Poddar High School,Santacruz,scored 91 per cent.

Mehta is a robotics enthusiast and also an avid table tennis player. He has already begun coaching for the Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Exam (IIT JEE).