Boy who grazes goats to support mom scores over 90% in matric

Time of India

04-05-2025

Berhampur: A 16-year-old boy from a remote village in
Gajapati district
's Mohana block has scored an impressive 543 out of 600 marks in the High School Certificate (HSC) examination, securing an A1 grade.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
A student of Govt High School in KM Bhalia Sahi,
Chandra Sekhar Dalai
balanced his studies while helping his mother graze goats. His father died three years ago. With one sister married and an elder brother pursuing higher studies, the responsibility of supporting the household largely fell on the teen's shoulders.
"Despite grazing goats to assist my mother, I prepared for the examination at night," he said. He now aims to pursue Plus II and eventually become a teacher, to help poor students like him.
"I'm very happy that he performed well. But I'm also worried about his higher studies. It's difficult to support him with my meagre earnings," mother Banita Dalai, a shepherd, said, hoping for govt support.
Prahallad Shial, the school's headmaster, called Chandra Sekhar's achievement an inspiration.
Assistant teacher Ram Chandra Dalabehera recalled that Chandra Sekhar was not able to attend classes regularly due to household work, but they made extra efforts by visiting his village and encouraging his mother to support his studies.
"We imparted extra coaching to students in the morning and evening. He attended the coaching classes and cleared his doubts," he said.
Shial said all 56 students from the school passed the matric exam, with three, including Chandra Sekhar, scoring above 90%.
Berhampur: A 16-year-old boy from a remote village in Gajapati district's Mohana block has scored an impressive 543 out of 600 marks in the High School Certificate (HSC) examination, securing an A1 grade.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
A student of Govt High School in KM Bhalia Sahi, Chandra Sekhar Dalai balanced his studies while helping his mother graze goats. His father died three years ago. With one sister married and an elder brother pursuing higher studies, the responsibility of supporting the household largely fell on the teen's shoulders.
"Despite grazing goats to assist my mother, I prepared for the examination at night," he said. He now aims to pursue Plus II and eventually become a teacher, to help poor students like him.
"I'm very happy that he performed well. But I'm also worried about his higher studies. It's difficult to support him with my meagre earnings," mother Banita Dalai, a shepherd, said, hoping for govt support.
Prahallad Shial, the school's headmaster, called Chandra Sekhar's achievement an inspiration.
Assistant teacher Ram Chandra Dalabehera recalled that Chandra Sekhar was not able to attend classes regularly due to household work, but they made extra efforts by visiting his village and encouraging his mother to support his studies.
"We imparted extra coaching to students in the morning and evening. He attended the coaching classes and cleared his doubts," he said.
Shial said all 56 students from the school passed the matric exam, with three, including Chandra Sekhar, scoring above 90%.