Two young people cannot see, at all. But that is only half the battle for them.

Ananda Mondal, 24 and Raseda Khatun, 22, are weighed down by poverty too.

Ananda scored 89 per cent in his higher secondary exam and Raseda scored
83.2 per cent.

Their marks do not reflect their toil and perseverance.

Appearing in an exam means tirelessly recording classroom lectures and listening to them over and over again. Not all lectures can be recorded.

“If I were to record every 40-minute class I would have ended up with an abnormal amount of audio files. I had to choose the right portion of every class to record and request the teacher to repeat the important parts,” said Ananda.

“What could not be recorded had to be stored in the brain,” he said.

Ananda appeared for higher secondary from Vivekananda Mission Asram Residential School for the Blind near Haldia and scored 85 per cent in Bengali, 90 in Education and English, 93 in history and 87 in Sanskrit.

Raseda, a student of Lighthouse for the Blind scored 81 per cent in Bengali, 80 in English, 82 in philosophy, 85 in history and 88 in Education.

“I managed to perform in the exams by listening to classroom lectures. People like us do not take any private tuition,” she said.

On Wednesday, both Ananda and Raseda were felicitated by the Reach Out Star Foundation.

When they walked up to the stage somewhat unsteadily and with a bit of help, there was a determination that was hard to miss.

“My father is a farmer who earns ₹3,000 to 4000 a month. I am studying in the hope of getting a job,” Raseda said.

It is with this determination that Ananda has qualified in the Bengali entrance test of Ramakrishna Mission Residential College(Autonomous), Narendrapur.

The challenge is not about qualifying but about being able to continue studies.

“My father is trying his best but admission and books require a lot of money,” said Ananda.

On days that Ananda’s father, a farmer, is not working, he does not earn anything.

“I had to travel from East Midnapore to Calcutta for the admission test and on those days he had no income. I can board a train on my own but since Howrah is a big station and is crowded it becomes difficult if I am alone,” said Ananda.

The foundation recognised many other students who have topped the school leaving examinations and their principals.

The archbishop of Calcutta, Reverend Thomas D’Souza said the evening celebrated goal, motivation and hard work.

“Young stars, remember it is not the end but the beginning of your lives. Remember your qualities of mind and heart must grow,” the archbishop said while congratulating the toppers.

He spoke about the human qualities of honesty, justice, love for the poor, and helping others, especially those in need.

“This is a common platform where we not only felicitate the toppers but also those students who have excelled despite limited access and resources. They are an inspiration for other students,” said Shaheryaar Ali Mirza, president, Reach Out Star Foundation.

“Despite their achievements in life, students should not forget to be compassionate, respect others and be humble,” said Mirza.

The stage also recognised Jancy Joseph, of St Thomas’ Girls’ School Kidderpore, who had three brain surgeries within three months. The girl lost her memory for a period and made a resounding comeback with 89 per cent score in ISC.

Joeeta Basu, the secretary of the foundation, said they were recognising not just the students but the principals too because it was under their guidance that these students could prosper.