Punjabi medium students of Fazilka get royal welcome for outstanding Class 10 scores

Rani, though studied in Punjabi medium, is a quick learner and speaks English and Hindi fluently, says her father Balwinder Singh, a Class 12 drop out who makes tents for functions.

Besides Anita Rani, 17 other meritorious students of Punjabi medium government schools of Fazilka with impoverished social background were also invited by SSP Fazilka Dr Pragya Jain at her office where they were honoured with certificates, medals and mementos. Out of the 18 students, 16 were girls and they had scored in the range of 98 to 88 per cent.

Rani, who hails from Dhab Khushal Joiya village aims to crack Civil Services examination after taking up non-medical stream in Class 12.

“Once my daughter achieves this feat, I will set up the biggest tent for my daughter to celebrate her success,” says an excited Balwinder Singh.

While conversing in English, she said, “I love science and mathematics. So I wish to take a non-medical stream for higher studies.” Rani has already cleared the entrance for School of Eminence and is awaiting the counselling session.

The office of the district police head has organised the felicitation event for meritorious students as part of its community outreach programme.

“After the board exam results of Punjab School Education Board were out last month, we made a list of meritorious students in our district, from which we shortlisted those from Punjabi medium government schools who mainly hail from low-income families on the border regions,” Dr Pragya Jain told The Indian Express.

“So we did not strictly follow a merit list as most of the selected students fared well in the exam with limited resources and hence they needed to be motivated to do well in their lives,” the officer added.

In most of the cases, the parents of the students had studied up to class 12 or below.

Hailing from a village notorious for drug seizures and addicts, Mandeep Singh from Seed Farm Pakka village of Abohar has scored 97.23 per cent in Class 10 and now wants to pursue Humanities in Class 11. The 16-year-old is also a big fan of mathematics.

“I have made the village proud for good reasons. Mathematics, political science and history will be the main subjects which I want to pursue,” says the former student of Government High School, Seed Farm Pakka, 30 kilometres from the Pakistan border.

Mandeep Singh wishes to crack UPSC exam and become an IPS officer and his mother Rajpal and father Rajwinder Singh, a farmer, who had studied only up to Class 8 and Class 12 respectively are planning to work even harder to fulfil their son’s dreams. Rajwinder is a mediocre farmer with six acres of land.

“My elder brother is pursuing graduation in Abohar and he wants to be a teacher. I want to be an IPS officer. The meeting with the SSP Madam was quite inspiring and I felt honoured,” Mandeep says.

Another student who was felicitated was Saroj Rani, a resident of Noor Mohammad village of Fazilka, who scored 92 per cent. Daughter of a mediocre farmer, Saroj Rani would commute to her school in Pacca Chishti village on bicycle.

“I am happy I got 92% marks. I was more comfortable studying in Punjabi medium and now I will be taking admission in a non-medical stream at the Government Senior Secondary School, Karni Khera village, which is 3 to 4 km away.

Saroj Rani is a perfect example of grit and determination as her mother never went to school after Class 5 and father till Class 8. “We don’t know what all she used to study. But we supported her mentally to pursue her studies. Though my wife and I couldn’t study, our children will study and chase their dreams,” says Kala Singh, her father. Saroj has a younger sister and brother in school.

Saroj, though unclear about what to pursue ahead, says confidently, “I want to study a lot, be financially independent and make my own decisions.”

Karandev Singh, hailing from Kawanwali village, was also among the meritorious lot who was honoured for securing 89.23% marks. Son of labourer Kishor Singh, Karandev has cleared the entrance exam for taking admission in School of Eminence. “Let’s see where I would get admission after counselling,” he says with fingers crossed.

Karandev’s father is a Class 10 pass and mother Gurmeet Kaur never pursued education after Class 7. Karan, however, used to attend the extra classes of Government High School in Kawanwali village, apart from studying at home. “As the board exams drew closer I also took test series as well. Otherwise, by and large it was self-study,” he said.

“Times have changed. A labourer’s son need not be a labourer anymore, he can even become an officer as well,” smiles his father Kishor Singh.

Among the 18 meritorious students were Raina, daughter of a canteen worker who scored 96.92%, and Amanjot Kaur of Ladhuwala Uttar village who scored 96.6%.

When Amanjot Kaur said that her ambition was to be a judge, the SSP arranged a meeting with the Fazilka session judge Jatinder Kaur. Some of the students also met Deputy Commissioner Dr Senu Kapila Duggal. The rare occasion with dignitaries offered some selfie moments for the children.

Kirandeep Kaur of Gariba Sandhar village who got 96.92% marks said, “This Wednesday was an inspiring day. I understood the power of getting knowledge and utilising it in an optimum manner. SSP’s uniform inspired me a lot. More such sessions are needed to help us set our goals and stay determined in life.”

The children and their parents were picked and dropped in police vehicles. They were also accompanied by the teachers of their respective schools which made their moment memorable. “We all came in the vehicles meant for the area’s station house officer (SHO),” says a gleaming Anita Rani.

SSP Dr Pragya Jain exhorted the students to give priority to Class 12 studies and then focus on graduation. “You all should also prepare for competitive exams, take up any job to fulfil your goal and try to bear the cost of education yourself, so that you don’t put extra burden on parents. Hard work is the key to success, there are no shortcuts,” she told the gathering.