GUWAHATI, May 25 - A total of four students from the city figured in the list of rank-holders in the HSLC exam, results of which were declared today.
Three of the four students were from the same school � Suderashan Public School, Khanapara � while another was from St Mary�s Higher Secondary School.
The rank holders from the city were Arbi Chaliha (3rd), Bipanch Deka (8th) and B Zenith Kashyap (9th), who are all from Suderashan Public School, and Sermon Caisar (9th) are from St Mary�s Higher Secondary School.
Last year, there were no rank-holders in the HSLC exam from Guwahati.
Arbi said she studied 11-12 hours each day in the run-up to the Board exams and also took private tuitions in all subjects.
She secured a total of 591 marks and letter marks in all subjects. �My parents are my biggest idols. I got full support from them as well as from my teachers. Everybody encouraged me,� said Arbi, who plans to study in the Science stream and has ambition to either work in the field of astronomy or try for Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
A resident of the Jonali area in the city, Arbi�s hobbies include drawing and playing the drum. She was confident of making it to the list of rank-holders.
Arbi�s parents Nilanta Chaliha works in the Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers� Association (IEEMA), while her mother Chandralipi Saikia Chaliha is a homemaker. �I cannot explain my feelings. It is a like a dream come true,� said Nilanta Chaliha, Arbi�s father.
Bipanch is also planning to join the Science stream and wants to take up medical studies after Higher Secondary. He studied up to 14-15 hours a day in the months before the exam.
Bipanch, who listens to music in his free time, took tuition in all subjects, barring English. �My late grandfather was my biggest inspiration. But my parents and all my relatives as well as my teachers also inspired and encouraged me a lot,� he said.
Bipanch�s family stays at the Chandmari locality. His father is Assistant Manager with the Electricity Board and his mother is a homemaker.
�We were expecting him to do well. Whatever he wants to achieve in life, we will always support him,� said Bipanch�s mother Jaya Deka.
Zenith said he never expected to figure in the list of rank-holders. �My aim is to go in the medical line after completing Class 12,� said Zenith, who studied around 10-12 hours every day. He secured a total of 585 marks.
Zenith�s main hobbies are PC and mobile games and he considers the late President APJ Abdul Kalam as his idol.
�The way he prepared himself for the exam was very different from the conventional mode. For example, he never studies seating and instead prefers to lie on bed. His hairstyle also put him in trouble at school many times,� said Achinta Bhuyan, Zenith�s father, who is a resident of the Sixmile locality and works in ASEB.
Sayeeda Mukit, Principal of Suderashan Public School, said the school has over the years managed to produce a number of rank-holders, and the trend continues.
�We have always put stress on finishing the syllabus on time, take extra classes during summer breaks and also take extra care of students who are academically weak. The aim is to build up the kids from the lower classes,� she said.
Altogether 129 students had appeared in the HSLC exam from the school and all passed, with as many as 121 securing first division.
Meanwhile, a faculty member of St Mary�s Higher Secondary School, which produced one rank-holder this year, said the priority should be given on the success of each and every student.
She said the system of declaring rank-holders should be eliminated, as has been done by other Boards.
As many as 182 of the 188 students who appeared in the HSLC exam from the school secured first division, while five secured second division and one failed.
Meanwhile, Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi congratulated the toppers and other successful candidates for their good show.
In a congratulatory message, Prof Mukhi hailed the extraordinary performances of the toppers and wished them all the very best in their lives.
He said their hard work, perseverance and dedication have yielded fruits. He also lauded the performances of other successful students and said they made their teachers and parents proud.
Prof Mukhi also consoled the unsuccessful candidates and asked them to put in more hard work with renewed zeal to become successful next year.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today extended greetings to the toppers and all those who passed exams and wished them a bright future ahead.
Sonowal also urged the students to become good human beings, apart from being successful in their academic careers and lead a life of high moral values.
