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Father passed away in the morning, Solapur girl finished board exam in 1.5 hours to return for cremation; scores 65 marks

Bhikaji Pawar, suffering from liver disease, had undergone his first session of dialysis on February 12, and passed away on February 20.

Dhanashree with her family.Dhanashree with her family.

Dhanashree Pawar was set to appear for her Class 10 board examination paper when her father tragically passed away on the morning of the first exam. Bhikaji Pawar, suffering from liver disease, had undergone his first session of dialysis on February 12, and passed away on February 20.

“I was not in a state to write the Marathi exam. My family was trying to convince me to go but I said that I would pass the paper in the retest. However, principal of my school (Sharad Chandra Pawar School in Solapur) Tanaji Mane convinced me that if I don’t appear for the exam my year will be wasted. He said that it was my father’s wish that his girl should study, so I went. I travelled with him to the exam centre and he dropped me back as well. The body was at home as I wrote the exam, and the cremation was done after I came back,” Dhanashree told The Indian Express.

“I wrote the examination for only 1.5 hours and have scored 65 marks. I am feeling very happy. Even my father would have been very happy,” she adds.

Dhanashree’s elder brother Vijay Pawar said, “Her sister was appearing for the Class 12 exams at the same time. I knew both of them would pass the exam. Preparations for our father’s funeral were underway at home. My sister’s first paper was on the same day and her principal Mane sir heard that our father had passed away. So that a year of hers does not get wasted, he took her to appear for the examination.”

Overall, Dhanashree has scored 54 per cent in her board exams. Now she wants to do a Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) course and fulfill her father’s dream of her education.

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More


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