Do you remember this specially-abled boy who wrote SSLC exams by holding a pen between his toes? Suresh Kumar S, Primary and Secondary Education Minister had posted his picture on twitter and appreciated him. Kaushik Acharya from Bantwal has scored a commendable 67.84 in his SSLC exams this year. He says, "My family and I are happy with my results. After putting in so much effort, I was finally able to score a total of 424 out of 625. I will be choosing Commerce for PUC I and II. My teachers from SVS High School in Bantwal also congratulated me on the results."
The reason behind Kaushik writing exams using toes was his right hand is partially developed, his left measures only a few inches. Early on in life, he was taught by his mother to use feet, hold the pen between his toes and write or draw. You will be surprised to see Kaushik writing normally like any other child with the same speed. He says, "My mother taught me to write by using my toes. From then on, there was no looking back and I learnt everything I was supposed to with academics and otherwise."
You will be surprised to know that this 15-year-old boy opted to write the SSLC exams all by himself. He explains to us the reason behind it, "The school, as well as KSEEB officials, asked me if I need a scribe to write the exam and as usual, my answer was 'No'. When I tell them the answer orally, the scribe might misunderstand and write a different answer. Plus, it is time-consuming. I need to finish the exam within three hours, hence, I decided to write the exams by myself."
Unlike the other students, he sat on the floor and wrote the exam, "I feel comfortable sitting on the floor and writing exams and the school and education department gave me permission to do so," he explains. Before he could take the exams, he practised solving various questions papers. If you're wondering how he handles the diagrams in Science and maps in Geography, then you must know that Kaushik has an artistic side to him. These skills have come in handy during the exams. He says, "You name the competition and I am in it. I am into dance, yoga, swimming, clay modelling, sculpture, cycling etc. These skills have helped me maintain the flexibility of the body and mental stress during exams. It took a lot of perseverance and dedication to learn them but I did not give up. I have never felt bad for not having my hands but feel good that I take every possible option to do what I can."
In June, Suresh Kumar S, Primary and Secondary Education Minister, who came across this picture of Kaushik posted it on his social media pages on Twitter and Facebook. The minister wrote, "My heartfelt wishes to this boy, Kaushik, who wrote his exam without anybody's help. Such people give meaning to life and break all kinds of stereotypes in our society."
