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The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Chhattisgarh girl scores 99.17% while overcoming cancer; tops State board
For Ishika Bala from Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the Class 10 board examination wasn't just about dealing with anxiety but also about the trauma and pain of battling cancer. The 17-year-old overcame both to emerge as topper in the State board examination taken by 3.28 lakh students, scoring a near perfect 99.17%. Enduring 'constant shivering and frequent nasal bleeding besides extreme fatigue and overwhelming stress' for over a year, Ms. Bala — who studies at a government school in Kanker district — missed the board examination last year after being diagnosed in October 2023. Her family says that while she has always done well academically, this difficult phase strengthened her resolve and determination. While her cancer is in remission, she will be under observation for the next 2-3 years and has routine check-ups scheduled every two to three months, according to her father, Shankar Bala. Cheer amidst the gloom Ms. Bala said that though she tried to adhere to her rigorous six-hour-a-day study routine, her physical condition would not permit it. 'My body weight increased, white blood cell and platelet count fell, and I endured blood clots. At one point even touching water would trigger shivering, and the mental stress was extreme. On days I felt slightly better, I tried to study a little, but overall it was excruciating,' she says. Her condition has put considerable pressure on the family. Ms. Bala is the third among five children — four daughters and a son. The eldest, a sister, is married. Her father, a farmer, works a modest 1.7-acre plot to support his family. The parents were forced to stay in Nava Raipur, where she underwent treatment for a year, and the situation has left him in debt. 'Four of my children are studying. I spent ₹15 lakh, which exhausted my savings and forced me to take a substantial loan, which I still owe,' says Mr. Bala, 47. His family was among the Hindu Bengali refugees who migrated from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to undivided Madhya Pradesh and were resettled in the Pakhanjore area of Kanker or North Bastar. He says the examination results have given the family a reason to cheer, however, and he is proud of his daughter. A student of the Government Higher Secondary School in Gundahur village in Kanker, Ms. Bala was declared joint topper with Naman Kumar Khuntia of the Swami Atmanand Govt Utkrisht Eng Med School, Jashpur, on Wednesday. Ms. Bala credits parents and teachers for her success and says they kept her motivated. She has her sights set on engineering and subsequently the UPSC examinations because the IAS 'get a lot of respect and have both the power and the passion to change things.' What does she want to change? 'The education system for sure,' she says. For now, she wishes the government would provide her financial assistance to study.
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Chhattisgarh Board 10th Results 2025: Meet Ishika Bala, cancer survivor who scored 99.17 per cent in CGBSE exams
A student of Government Higher Secondary School in Gundahur village in Kanker district, she shares the position with Naman Kumar Khuntia of Swami Atmanand Govt Utkrisht Eng Med School, Jashpur district. Ishika, who hails from a modest family in PV (Paralkot Village)-51 village in the tribal-dominated and Naxal-hit Kanker district, said she aspires to become an IAS officer. But even now, the 17-year-old could be an inspiration to many. Paralkot villages are located in the Pakhanjore area, where Hindu Bengali refugees from the erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, were settled. According to her family, Ishika was diagnosed with blood cancer in November 2023 when she was in Class 10th. The 17-year-old recently overcame cancer, but she will be under observation for the next 2-3 years, they said. She could not take her board exam last year due to cancer, as she underwent treatment in a private hospital in Raipur. 'I want to pursue engineering and will opt for Maths in the next class. I will then prepare for the UPSC exam as I dream of becoming an IAS officer,' Ishka told PTI. Throughout her treatment, Ishika did not let her ambition take a back seat and continued her academic journey with full determination. 'At times, I thought I would not be able to study further. But I didn't give up as I had trust in myself. It is important to have confidence in yourself,' said the teenager. Her farmer father, Shankar Bala, said she was treated at Balco Medical Centre in Nava Raipur and was recently declared free from cancer. She will need to undergo routine check-ups for the next 2-3 years to avoid a recurrence, he said, adding that Ishika is the third among his five children. 'She defeated cancer with her willpower and courage. The entire family cared for her during her treatment and kept encouraging her to continue her studies. Her perseverance paid off, and she topped the board exam,' said the proud father. Despite having modest means, Shankar said he would ensure the best education for all his kids so that they can have successful careers. The Chhattisgarh Board held the Class 12 board exams between March 1 and March 28 and the Class 10 board exams took place from March 3 to March 24.
The Print
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Print
Chhattisgarh Class 10 topper battled with blood cancer for two years, missed exam last year
As the results of the Class 10 exam conducted by the Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education were declared on Wednesday, Ishika's name figured at the top of the list with a score of 99.17 per cent. The teenager battled with blood cancer for two years before emerging triumphant recently. She missed the board exam last year due to her health condition, but that could not shake her determination. Raipur, May 7 (PTI) Ishika Bala, who topped the Chhattisgarh Class 10 board exam, is a fighter of a rare breed. A student of Government Higher Secondary School in Gundahur village in Kanker district, she shares the position with Naman Kumar Khuntia of Swami Atmanand Govt Utkrisht Eng Med School, Jashpur district. Ishika, who hails from a modest family in PV (Paralkot Village)-51 village in the tribal-dominated and Naxal-hit Kanker district, said she aspires to become an IAS officer. But even now, the 17-year-old could be an inspiration to many. Paralkot villages are located in the Pakhanjore area, where Hindu Bengali refugees from the erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, were settled. According to her family, Ishika was diagnosed with blood cancer in November 2023 when she was in Class 10th. The 17-year-old recently overcame cancer, but she will be under observation for the next 2-3 years, they said. She could not take her board exam last year due to cancer, as she underwent treatment in a private hospital in Raipur. 'I want to pursue engineering and will opt for Maths in the next class. I will then prepare for the UPSC exam as I dream of becoming an IAS officer,' Ishka told PTI. Throughout her treatment, Ishika did not let her ambition take a back seat and continued her academic journey with full determination. 'At times, I thought I would not be able to study further. But I didn't give up as I had trust in myself. It is important to have confidence in yourself,' said the teenager. Her farmer father, Shankar Bala, said she was treated at Balco Medical Centre in Nava Raipur and was recently declared free from cancer. She will need to undergo routine check-ups for the next 2-3 years to avoid a recurrence, he said, adding that Ishika is the third among his five children. 'She defeated cancer with her willpower and courage. The entire family cared for her during her treatment and kept encouraging her to continue her studies. Her perseverance paid off, and she topped the board exam,' said the proud father. Despite having modest means, Shankar said he would ensure the best education for all his kids so that they can have successful careers. PTI TKP NR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
