The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : My role model is Kalam, says State topper

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

My role model is Kalam, says State topper

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

TIRUCHI, MAY 13. T. Nivethitha of the St. Joseph's Anglo-Indian Girls' Higher Secondary School, Tiruchi, who secured 1,183 out of 1,200 marks is the State topper in this year's Plus-Two examinations.

She has scored centum in chemistry and biology, 199 in mathematics and physics, 194 in English and 191 in Tamil. By choosing Tamil as her first language, Nivethitha is entitled to a State Government scholarship. She is also the State topper in Tamil. "Though I was confident of a stellar performance, the State-first distinction was a sweet surprise," said Nivethitha, who wants to pursue medicine as well as begin her preparations for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. She said her role model was the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and that she wished to gain entry into Indian Administrative Services (IAS) to serve the people.

For Nivethitha's parents, V. Thirugnanam, Professor of Surgery and Dean (in-charge), K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College Hospital, and Lakshmi, a housewife, the girl's performance was on expected lines.

K. Harish of Parimalam Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Hosur, who secured 1,180 marks, shares the rank jointly with Nandini of Sri Vidya Mandir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Uthangkarai.

His marks are: English (192), Tamil (188), physics (200), chemistry (200), biology (200) and mathematics (200). Harish's ambition is to become a doctor. He attributes his success to his principal (Late) N. Janakiraman. He wants to pursue medicine at the Madras Medical College, Chennai.

T. Hemanand of Sri Vijay Vidyalaya Matriculation Boys Higher Secondary School, Dharmapuri, has bagged third rank with 1,178 marks. He shares the rank jointly with Saranya Devi and Uday Kumar of Sri Vidya Mandir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Uthangkarai. His marks are: English (194), Tamil (189), physics (196), chemistry (200), biology (199) and mathematics (200). Hemanand's goal is to pursue a career in the Civil Services and attributes his success to his parents, teachers and relatives.

U. Sridharan of Vani Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Gandhinagar, Vellore, who, with 1,180 marks, obtained the second rank, wants to become a cardiologist.

Sridharan said he owed his achievement to the motivation provided by his parents, Pon. Umapathi, assistant engineer, Tirupattur Cooperative Sugar Mills, and B. Aruna, a teacher in the same school; the correspondent S. Soundararajan, the principal K. Nageswari, and other teachers.

The daughter of a man who vends vessels and a woman who sells flowers, A. Balkees Barjana, who has scored 992 marks, found a place in the State toppers' list in geography with 196 marks securing first rank. She is a student of Avvai Corporation Higher Secondary School in Madurai Support from the institution and teachers' encouragement enabled her to make `the school proud', says the headmistress, N. Jayalakshmi. The ward councillor gave her a cash prize of Rs.1,001.

The girl, who studied in Tamil medium first group, says her ambition is to become a good teacher.

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