PERSONAL SPECIAL THE INDOMITABLES
(5)
They rose above their grim financial circumstances, overcame all sorts of odds and defied stereotypes to top exams, get into IIMs and even pursue a PhD at 15! Here are their incredible stories: of unrelenting struggle and hard work.
SUSHMA VERMA
DAUGHTER OF A DAILY WAGE LABOURER , THE YOUNGEST (JUST ABOUT 8 YERS OLD)TO PASS CLASS 10 BOARD EXAM AND MSc. BY AGE 15.
'I
didn't even know what the Boards meant'
Sushma
Verma has always been filled with a deep sense of wonder at how life exists
beyond what the naked eye recognises. This prompted her to take up microbiology
for her post-graduation from the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU)
in Lucknow.
Her
scorecard shows a first rank in her first, second and fourth semesters. She has
now enrolled in a PhD course. And Sushma is all of 15 years!
When she
was just two-and a-half years old, Sushma recited
Ramayana
'chaupayis' at a local function. She considers that the first proud moment of
her life.
Born in
the outskirts of Lucknow, Sushma's father was a daily-wage labourer, and
mother, a homemaker. “Our home comprised of a single room with a leaking
ceiling. The main thought in my mind then was that all I have are my brother's
books. So I have to study with his support.” She was not even three years old
then!
When she
was five years old, looking at her prodigious memory and skills, Sushma's
family suggested she take the Board exam. Finally, she enrolled at St Meera's
Inter College in Lucknow, in class 9. “When we submitted my application form,
the principal thought there had been some mistake, that my application was for
nursery,” laughs Sushma. She had to take a test which covered the entire
syllabus from class 1 to 8 to check if she was eligible for class 9. She was.
The
first few days in school left her tired. It was a task explaining to her
classmates that she had not entered the class by mistake or that she didn't
study 20 hours a day.
In June
2007, Sushma created history. Limca Book of Records recognised her as the
youngest student, aged 7 years, 3 months and 28 days, to pass the class 10
Board exam in the country. “At the time, I didn't even understand the
significance of Board exams. This was only the second time in my entire life
that I was taking an exam!”
She was
also the subject of a documentary film by a Japanese television channel. “It
was a matter of great pride. We thought, why would they want to film us of all
the people in the city,” she says.
Sushma
went on to graduate in Botany from Lucknow University at the age of 13, and
finished her MSc at 15. However, she doesn't think of this as a feat. “Most
people think that only after the child turns 5-6 should s/he be taught to read
and write. But it's important to pay attention to what he or she learns even
before that.”
What
makes her achievements special is that her father was appointed as a sanitation
assistant at the same university she graduated from. Besides, just by being
around the Verma siblings while they study, her mother today can read basic
Hindi and English.
What
does the future hold for Sushma? "It's impossible to know ki hum life mein
kya banenge. Maybe my life will take a new turn.”
HTBR 13SEP15
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