Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 21, 2010:
�I used to read books with either my younger brother or younger sister on my back while simultaneously cooking food with firewood�, said Mayenglambam Sonika from Kakching Paji Leikai.
Sonika secured second position in the MBBS/BDS entrance exam.
Talking to The Sangai Express, the top three highest mark scorers in the entrance exam revealed their secrets and efforts that went behind their success.
Maibam Ibomcha, son of M Joykumar and M Memcha of Sarungpham Kang Yambem Mayai Leikai was the top scorer in the entrance exam.
He scored 364 marks out of 400. Sonika, daughter of M Ibochou and M Dhaneshwari was second scoring 356. Scoring a total mark of 352, Sarangthem Sabily, daughter of S Biramani and S Mema of Wangkhei Thambalkhong was the third highest mark scorer.
Notably, all the three top mark scorers were students of MECI tutorial centre.
Sonika's father Ibochou is a carpenter by profession.
As Ibochou is a heavy drinker, the greater responsibility of looking after the family lies on his wife Dhaneshwari.
She used to buy merchandise mostly vegetables from Wabagai and sell them at Kakching Keithel and Chandel Keithel for some profit.
Though Dhaneshwari herself is illiterate, she took keen interest in education of her children.
Living up to the expectations and struggle of her mother, Sonika second position in the MBBS/BDS entrance exam.
She has an excellent academic record scoring 89 per cent and 86 per cent marks respectively in HSLC and HSC exams.
She is the eldest of six siblings.
"Our mother would leave home early morning for her trade to see that both ends are met.
With mother away, it was my responsibility to look after my younger brothers and sisters.
I used to cook food for the family before going school", Sonika said.
Giving full credit to the moral support of her mother for her success, Sonika pledged to work harder.
Maibam Ibomcha�s father is Amin though his mother Memcha is illiterate.
Both Sarangthem Sabily parents are High School teachers though her father has retired.
Sabily secured 20th position in the HSLC Exam 2006 with a total score of 92 percent.
Students feted: Meritorious students of Thoubal district who excelled in the HSLC and HSC exams this year were felicitated by AMSU Thoubal district committee at Waikhom Mani Girls� College today.
Altogether 46 students, 22 of X standard and 24 of XII standard were conferred meritorious awards.
These included four position holders in HSLC exam and seven position holders in HSC exam.
The felicitation function was graced by YK College Wangjing Principal L Bondas, AMSU Thoubal district committee president S Subhachandra, Political Science Lecturer in Waikhom Mani College N Jotinkumar and Senior Grade Lecturer in Thoubal College Dr Kh Nabachandra as presidium members.