Someone fought against financial odds, while the challenges were physical for some others.

A band of boys and girls from different parts of north Bengal, who fought various odds to pursue their dreams, was felicitated on the first day of the Adamas University Kolkata Presents The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence 2024 North Bengal.

“The stories of these boys and girls are simply mind-boggling because, despite the odds they face, they carry on with their education. Honouring and appreciating their grit will help them take on bigger challenges in their lives,” Preeti Brahmin, the headmistress of Dulal Jote Nepali High School, said at the end of the first day’s programme.

The school is in Naxalbari, Darjeeling district. Some students of the institution received scholarships on Monday.

On Monday, The Telegraph Education Foundation (TTEF) hosted the event and saluted such bravehearts. Altogether 15 students received the scholarships.

Anushree Talukdar, Netaji Girls' High School, Siliguri, receives The Dulari Devi Mittal Memorial Scholarship

Among them was Krishanu Saha, a student from Balurghat High School of South Dinajpur. Despite facing financial instability because of his father’s modest salary as a school teacher, Krishanu excelled academically, securing sixth place in the Madhyamik examination in 2024 with a score of 98.29 per cent.

He scored 100 in Bengali and geography and 99 in mathematics and life science.

Tarun Das of Nishiganj Nishimoyee High School in Cooch Behar has also received the scholarship. He is the son of a small farmer with
a monthly income below ₹5,000 and no land or property,

Tarun, who is currently in twelfth standard, achieved 64.25 per cent in his last exam and aspires to become an engineer.

“I have goals to achieve in life. I will work hard to make my parents proud. I wish to take the science stream and become an engineer,” he said.

Rajib Nagasia, Kranti Devijhora Higher Secondary School, Jalpaiguri, receives The Punam Chand Mittal Memorial Scholarship with Courage Award

“This scholarship would give him courage and confidence to take a small step towards his future,” said Tapash, his father.

Pratima Majhi from Dulal Jote Nepali High School in Darjeeling was another student who got the scholarship. Her father is a painter and makes a meagre earning. In her last annual exams, she secured over 75 per cent marks and will appear for Madhyamik next year.

Also, Ghanshyam Darjee, a Class XIII student of the same school, was handed over the scholarship.

His father is a driver and earns less than ₹5,000 a month. Ghanshyam scored 74.8 per cent in his annual exams but struggles to afford school supplies. “My dream is to become an army officer,” he said.

Shreya Saha from Mahbert High School, Siliguri, who belongs to a financially challenged family as both her parents are hearing and speech impaired, was awarded the scholarship. She is in fifth standard and has scored 72 per cent in her annual exams.

Dev Pradhan, another student of Dulal Jote Nepali High School, received the scholarship. With an unstable income from his daily wage labourer father, Dev earned 75.42 per cent in his Class IX exams.

Anushree Talukdar, a Class IX student at Netaji Girls’ High School, Siliguri, got the scholarship for scoring 86.22 per cent and securing first place in Class VIII exams.

“I want to be a doctor. My father runs a toto for a living. I never had a tuition teacher, my father and mother helped me in my studies,” she said.

The scholarship awards also highlighted the journeys of Simran Das, Riwaz Thapa, Bhumika Barman, Pragya Basmet and Bipita Barman from various schools, each battling financial hardships but demonstrating exceptional academic prowess.