These students turn adversity into strength

Theirs is a tale that speaks of true grit and determination in the face of adversity. Despite their not-so-better station in life, that these two lads braved all odds to pass their II PUC exams with flying colours lends truism to the famous adage - there is no education like adversity - by Britain’s two-time Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. The brave lads who strove to assiduously chase their dream of a better education are Hanuman Honakhande of Azur in Athani taluk, a remote village bordering Belgaum district, and Rohan Prakash Khote of Kothali village in Chikodi taluk. Honakhande, severely physically challenged, did not let his handicap hamper his aspiration to get education. The eldest of seven sons of illiterate farmers Baban and Sangeetha, Honakhande, who - thanks to the help of a good Samaritan acquaintance - got admission in the Government Arts, Science & Commerce College, Majalatti, Chikodi taluk, a good 90 km from his nondescript village, and also a seat in BCM Hostel, burnt the midnight oil to successfully pass his II PU exams. According to Prof L N Banjwad, learning of Honakhande’s pitiful plight from the acquaintance, he was provided the seat in the hostel, and worked hard following the instructions of his teachers dutifully to master his subjects. "I started my day at 4 am and completed tasks by evening,” Honakhande, who wrote the exams with his left leg, said, adding he never left any work pending. That he secured a commendable 69 per cent in Commerce only speaks of his fortitude, when he effusively said, "I don’t have any big ambitions.” "I thank my teachers Sattigere, Kamble and Manjunath who taught me to write with my toes when I was in first standard. I want to do BCom and secure a job in the banking sector. I never felt the need for tuition classes even as many of my friends went for it. I followed the advice of lecturers which was more than what was required,” he said brimming with pride, bringing tears to the eyes of his parents who thanked God for their son’s success. Rohan, who too comes from a similar background with agricultural labourers Prakash and Pushpa as parents, and also stayed in the same BCM Hostel, secured 92.32 per cent in his exams from the Majalatti Government PU College. Unlike Honakhande, an equally enterprising Rohan adopted different means to achieve his acme of success. "I studied less, but discussed concepts more with our team. We all would often discuss and clarify many doubts,” he said, adding, "I thank my teachers for their guidance. I never felt tuition classes are needed to excel in exams. I never felt any shortcomings in my government school and college.” Prakash hopes to get educational loans to fulfil his son’s aspirations. "I want to opt for engineering course (Electronics and Communications), but worried about expenses. I have done well in CET and I am confident of getting a government seat,” he adds. College lecturers L N Banjwad, D Kavalapure and M D Chougla said they identified potentialities in Honakhande and Rohan. "We wanted to prove that students in remote rural areas can perform on a par with their urban counterparts. We kept instilling confidence in them. We also stressed human values and moral lessons during interaction. That helped them perform better,” they added. Deccan Herald