The Barpali Days

6:50 AM

Jugal Kishore Rana – The Lad on top of the Ladder

In India there are thousands of bright students who are eventually dropped out of school every year due to abject poverty. Yet there are a chosen few, who never want to surrender to the given circumstances of their life. Jugal Kishore Rana, the young lad of Barpali was able to acccomplish a feat of which not only his parents but his school [Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir] and entire Bargarh Dist is proud of. Jugal topped the 10^th standard examinations conducted by the HSC [High School Certificate] Board for the year 2013. It is one of a kind accomplishment, for he stood 1^st among the 5.32 lakh students who had appeared for Odisha’s Board of Secondary Education [BSE] examination. A point to be noted is that Jugal is neither the son of a doctor, engineer or a professor, and therefore could not get the requisite care and guidance for his schooling.

You would be taken aback to learn that Jugal is the son of Suresh Rana who works as a fourth grade employee in the Barpali Pharmacy College. His father has been working as a fourth grade employee in the pharmacy college for the past 24 years. Jugal's family belongs to the OBC (Other Backward Class) and occupies the lower rungs of society. But that did not deter him from proving his mettle. His family belongs to the potters caste. They chiefly make earthen pots out of clay. But Jugal never learnt the basic techniques of how to operate a potter's wheel, as his interests were purely academic.

According to his Maths Teacher Sh.Bipra Bira Patra, Jugal is very shy, calm and quiet by nature. He is always very respectful to his teachers at school. He was always punctual and knew the value of time management. In the class room many times he discreetly told his teacher not to deviate from the syllabus. His inspiration in life was always his maternal grandfather Shri Gangadhar Rana, who himself was a English and Maths teacher of Government Boys High School of Barpali. This boy was able to achieve this feat all by himself by attending classes diligently in school. Neither of his parents were educated beyond class 12. So neither his father or mother could help him with his homework. Due to financial constraints which his family had to face Jugal was never able to attend any private tutorial classes. School was the only place where he could acquire knowledge. Unlike many of his classmates Jugal did not have a laptop, Facebook ID or a study table at home. All his studies was done on his bed. As he had to sit for long hours cross legged, his legs used to get stiff.

In life he wish to be qualified as a doctor to nurture the society. You all too keep a watch on this lad who someday soon would bring even greater laurels to Barpali.

kiranbima@gmail.com

E.Kiran Mohan

C/o.Dr.E.R.Rao (MD)

Tehsil Chowk,

At/PO. BARPALI – 768 029

Dist. Bargarh, Orissa, India

Cell # 91-99-371-20565

E Kiran Mohan 9