CHENNAI: On the day when he stood first in Chennai district among hearing impaired students, B Ramakrishnan was not in the city. He was instead moving towards his native place Vathalagundu (Dindigul district) from Bengaluru.
Originally from Bathalagundu, Ramakrishnan’s parents relocated to Bengaluru about 20 years ago in search of greener pastures. Even as his father, Bala Dhandapani shifted several low-paying jobs, Ramakrishnan was admitted to a local Kannada medium school. But, the parents soon realised their son was not doing well. Hence, they admitted Ramakrishnan at the Mary Clubwala Jadhav Special High School in Annanagar, Chennai.
On Wednesday, Ramakrishnan’s score of 357 marks justified his parents’ decision. Speaking to Express, Bala Dhandapani, presently a watchman for a under-construction residential project in Bengaluru, said, “While as parents we are undoubtedly delighted over his performance, it is his courage and conviction which he has picked up by living alone that pleases us more. We put him at a hostel when he was five years old and today, he has come so far in his life through his own strength.”
Success is often sweet when it is attained after a lot of sweat and hardships and so it has proved for A Mahalakshmi, 16, as well. The student of Mahakavi Bharathiyar Higher Secondary School, run by Sevalaya, an NGO at Kasuva village in Tiruvallur district, has scored an impressive 487/500 and is the topper at the free school run for the rural poor.
Her achievement is significant, as education is considered a ‘luxury’ in those areas. Every student at the school belongs to rural families, who earn their bread working as daily labourers or coolies.
While as parents we are undoubtedly delighted, it is his courage which he has picked up by living alone that pleases us. We put him at a hostel when he was five years old and today, he has come so far in his life through his own strength Bala Dhandapani, B Ramakrishnan’s father