The Manipuri boy who steals the show
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: May 29, 2012 -

Mohammad Ismat is All India topper for CBSE Class XII exam 2012 on May 28 2012 :: Pix - David M Mayum

The stupendous success of Md Ismat, a student of Zenith Academy, Sangaiprou here, in the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE), 2012 conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Science stream, the results of which were announced on Monday, has made all of us really proud.

It is no mean achievement for a student from the strife-torn Manipur to emerge topper, not just in the regional zone, but at all India level in the most prestigious of all school board examinations in the country.

Considering his poor family background and uncertain upbringing that stood in the way of his study as obstacle on numerous occasions even to the extent of posing threat to his continuation in study, it is a success story that could inspire thousand of many other students who are in similar situations like Md Ismat.

Now that Md Ismat has overcome every obstacle and reached the pinnacle of success with an enviable scoring of 495 aggregate marks out of total 500 (99 percent) securing solid 100 out of 100 marks in Mathematics, Chemistry, Painting and Home Science as well as 98 marks in English Core and 97 marks in Physics, it is shuttering to imagine what would have been his fate if he had missed the last date of submitting the examination form on account of poverty or some other reasons, if not for the timely intervention of his school authority.

While the success of Md Ismat in becoming the all India topper in the CBSE/AISSCE, 2012 has proved that Manipuri students are not inferior in any way to their counterparts in other part of the country where educational infrastructure are far more superior, it has also shown that imparting education to students should not confine within the four walls of the classrooms only.

The interest shown by the school authority of Zenith Academy in going out of their 'normal way and duty' in trying to understand the needs of their students, even to the extent of visiting the house of Md Ismat to remind him of the deadline for submitting examination form is something that should be emulated by other school authorities.

If that is case, we would definitely see many more Md Ismats in the making. Along with streamlining the existing education system, what Manipur needs today is a qualitative as well as quantitative jump in the number of 'fully educated' students, who can steer the course of the society to the right direction.

All said and done, what is even more cherishing in the success of Md Ismat in securing the coveted top position in CBSE/AISSCE, 2012 is that the good news has come at a time when the people in the North eastern region of India are feeling a sense of alleged discrimination and neglect everywhere they go in any part of their own country.

Success of Md Ismat is a hard slap on the faces of all those who look down upon the Northeasterners.

Period.