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Author: Pallavi Singh
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: June 6, 2006
Introduction: This year's Backward Class topper feels urban Maharashtra provides ample opportunities to excel
In Cotton Green's Chatai Chawl, Ramchandra Kharkhele (45)-a peon with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited-is famously known as Reena's father.
On Monday morning, as a long stream of visitors started arriving at his modest one-room tenement with profuse greetings, his 18-yearold daughter added another chapter of glory to his otherwise measured existence.
Reena topped the Backward Classes (BC) category in the Mumbai region of the Maharashtra state Board's Higher Secondary Certificate exams with 92.67 per cent marks, good enough to compete with anyone in the General category.
That's why, perhaps, she isn't agitated over the controversial quotas. "I don't need reservations. I'll study hard to pull myself above everyone else," she says.
"But I think people of our classes in rural Maharashtra need support. In urban cities like Mumbai, people like us get ample opportunities," she adds, after a pause.
This is not Reena's first brush with excellence either-she was BC topper in the 2004 Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) exams too.
"My secret?" she grins, "Study, study, study... and very little sleep."
In her one-room-kitchen house, most of that studying had to be done in the kitchen. "My mother would cook early in the morning and then vacate the room so I could study," says Reena.
In recognition of her earlier achievement, a local coaching institute had waived her tuition fees-saving her family precious money from her father's Rs 10,000 monthly salary. "They knew I needed it, since both my parents are just matriculates," she says.
Ramchandra too knows how important his children's education is. Reena's two siblings are both currently being coached at private institutes, with neither parent thinking twice about the expense.
"For us, education comes first," says Ramchandran. "I want my children to do well in life."
And their efforts are bearing fruit. Younger daughter Veena missed the merit list by just two marks in the SSC Boards last year.
The only conflict on the happy day, meanwhile, was over Reena's ambition to join the Indian Administrative Service-her father wants her to become a doctor.
"I've decided to do both. After my Medicals, I'll appear for the civil service exam," she says.
Any alternate plans in case of failure? "Failure has never been an option," she says.
pallavi.singh@expressindia.com
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