Latest news with #Kafi
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Against all odds: The story of Kafi, an acid attack survivor who topped her school
Seated with a gentle smile and unwavering confidence in a one-room apartment in Chandigarh is 17-year-old Kafi, a young woman whose story is a testament to the power of resilience and hard work. At just three years, Kafi's life changed forever when an acid attack by a neighbour left her visually challenged and her face disfigured. Fourteen years later, she stands tall as the topper at the Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh, securing 95.6% in Class 12 board exams. 'I never imagined that one day, despite all odds, my daughter would bring such pride and recognition to our family. I'm so proud of her,' says her father, Pawan Kumar, tears welling up in his eyes. The attack happned on Holi on 2011. 'Kafi was left just a piece of flesh. We could barely identify her organs. She lost her eyesight completely, and her facial features were severely damaged,' says her father. What followed was years of pain and hospital visits. 'The next six years were a nightmare. We spent most of our time at AIIMS, Delhi, for her surgeries. We wondered if she would survive a month or two. Her wounds took more than four years to nurse. People used to say, 'How long will you care for her?' says Kumar. Kafi still struggles with physical consequences, and visits to hospitals are frequent. 'As I grow, my skin, especially around my neck and throat, becomes tighter due to scars. My facial skin is very sensitive. I can't step out in direct sunlight,' she says. She talks about the limitations most people don't think about twice. 'It's disheartening when I realise I can't go shopping like others. I can't see what I'm wearing. I wish I could look in the mirror and see myself the way others do.' But it's not just the physical struggle that lingers. 'Children scream when they see me for the first time. Co-passengers stare with disgust. Some even ask me to cover my face. That hurts more than the physical scars,' Kafi says. 'But it only fuels my resolve to study hard, succeed, and lift my father out of poverty.' With no visual memories from her childhood and limited financial resources, Kafi turned to resources within her reach. A smartphone and audiobooks became her teacher. 'I listen to podcasts about success and positivity, follow cricket commentary, stay updated on current affairs, and focus on my studies. It helps me block out negativity. For a visually impaired person, it's a blessing in disguise, no distractions,' she says. She also enjoys watching the sport that unites India — cricket. 'I listen to the commentary on my phone and discuss every detail with my younger brother. I love the game because of Virat Kohli. I admire him a lot,' she says with enthusiasm. Asked how she envisions her favourite player, Kafi responds, 'I can't picture anyone visually, but I know him as the fittest guy, with an impeccable personality and amazing consistency. I admire how he balances personal and professional life.' Like millions of fans, Kafi too was heartbroken when Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket. 'I was so disappointed. He's just 36. Legends like Sachin Tendulkar retired from Tests only after leaving other formats. My mood only lifted the next day when my board results came,' she laughs. Despite her admiration, Kafi doesn't want pity. 'I want to meet Kohli only after I achieve something. I don't want anyone to meet me out of sympathy,' she says with conviction. Behind Kafi's resilience is the father who worked hard to see his daughter succeed. After the attack, Kumar left his ancestral home in Haryana's Hisar, sold his property, and relocated to Chandigarh to give Kafi a chance at a better life. In Chandigarh, struggles continued — from job hunting and securing school admission for Kafi to fighting a prolonged legal battle. Kumar says he even took up work as a sweeper. 'People mocked me. But I had no choice. I cleaned toilets for two years to give my daughter a chance to live.' Today, Kumar works as a contractual peon at the Mini Secretariat in Chandigarh and drives an auto-rickshaw at night. 'Having seen my two elder sisters suffer in their marriages, I feared having a daughter. And when she was born, I prayed to God: ' Bhagwan, yeh ek hi kaafi hai' (God, one daughter is enough). I didn't want her to suffer like my sisters did. So, I named her Kafi,' says Kumar, on how her daughter got her name. 'But the day I realised my daughter is a blessing and a fighter, I decided I'll do whatever it takes to support her.' It's my remorse for once wishing: Ek hi Kafi hai.' Meanwhile, for Kafi, no dream is too big. She plans to study Political Science at Delhi University and dreams of becoming an IAS officer. 'I will work harder to reach that position, and I want to get posted in the same office where my father works as a peon,' she says. Parveen K Dogra is Assistant Editor at and is based in New Delhi. ... Read More
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Indian Express
‘We will have to be humble': Chandigarh acid attack survivor scores 95.6% in Class 12 CBSE boards, aspires to be an IAS officer
Kafi, 17, an acid attack survivor from Chandigarh, made headlines in 2023 after she scored 95.2 per cent marks in the Class 10 CBSE examinations. Fast forward to 2025, Kafi is in the news again for scoring 95.6 per cent in her Class 12 CBSE board exams. Speaking to ANI after her results were declared, Kafi said, 'I am an acid attack victim, and my target is to become an IAS officer. Being a visually challenged girl, there were a lot of challenges, but my parents and teachers helped me a lot to conquer them…My main source of study was audio and textbooks.' Crediting her success to her parents, Kafi also spoke about their sacrifice. 'My parents have been my support system and inspiration. The way they have sacrificed for me, I just want to pay back to them back. This pushes me a lot to do better in my life. For the students out there, I want to say that social media and other things are not going to decide our future; we have to do hard work. We will have to be humble and good human beings.' Watch here: #WATCH | Chandigarh: 17-year-old Kafi, an acid attack survivor from Chandigarh, scores 95.6% in CBSE class 12, aspires to become an IAS officer. Kafi, says 'I belong to Hisar, Haryana. In the recent results of the CBSE Boards, I scored 95.6% in Class 12th. In Class 10th, I had… — ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2025 Kafi was just three years old when her life took a devastating turn – three men threw acid on her while she was playing Holi in 2011, leaving her blind. What followed was a long and painful journey. Over the next six years, her parents travelled across the country, spending over Rs 20 lakh in hopes of restoring her vision. The family, once settled in Hisar, Haryana, where her father ran an iron shop, was forced to relocate to Chandigarh as financial strain mounted. Meanwhile, the three attackers who were convicted were released in 2018 after just two years of imprisonment. Kafi began her formal education at the age of eight in Hisar, enrolling in Class 1. But realising she was falling behind academically, her parents moved to Chandigarh and admitted her to the Institute for the Blind when she was ten. Today, Kafi lives with her family in Shanti Nagar. Her name, meaning 'sufficient,' was chosen by her parents because her birth felt like the perfect completion to their family. After she topped her class at the Institute for the Blind, the Adani Foundation reached out to her. Upon learning about Sankara Nethralaya, the foundation offered to sponsor her treatment and travel as well.
News18
14-05-2025
- News18
CBSE 12th Results: 17-year Old From Chandigarh Who Lost Eyes In Acid Attack Scores Over 95%
Last Updated: CBSE 12th Results 2025: Kafi lost her eyesight after a neighbor threw acid at her during a family dispute, resulting in her permanent blindness. 17-year-old Kafi, who lost her eyesight at the age of three, has achieved an impressive 95.6 per cent in her CBSE Class 12 board exam results 2025 announced on Tuesday. Kafi lost her eyesight after a neighbor threw acid at her during a family dispute, resulting in her permanent blindness. After years of treatment for her severe injuries, Kafi enrolled in the Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh. The student from Hisar in Haryana used Braille, and audiobooks for her CBSE board exams, reported PTI. Kafi, who chose the humanities stream, studied for about two-three hours daily. Now she aims to become an IAS officer. Her father, Pawan, works as a peon in the Haryana secretariat, while her mother, Suman, is a homemaker. Both her parents had studied only up to Class 5 but they were determined to provide Kafi with the best opportunities to advance in her career. Kafi advanced from Class 2 to 6 only after her treatment was completed. In her 10th exams too, Kafi had achieved over 95 per cent. She had secured 95.2 per cent. This year, more than 93 per cent students cleared the Class 10 exam, while 88.39 per cent passed class 12. Girls once again outshone boys in both exams. 'The board will issue merit certificates to the top 0.1 per cent students who have scored the highest marks in subjects. The merit certificates will be available in the DigiLocker of the students concerned," Sanyam Bhardwaj, the CBSE's examination controller said. The CBSE did not announce merit lists in 2020 and 2021 after the board adopted an alternative assessment scheme since some or all papers were cancelled due to COVID-19. It permanently discontinued the policy in 2022. First Published: May 14, 2025, 21:22 IST
NDTV
14-05-2025
- NDTV
Chandigarh Teen Lost Eyes In Acid Attack, Scores 95.6% In Class 12 Boards
Chandigarh: Acid burned her eyes, not her ambition. Seventeen-year-old Kafi has defied all odds to score 95.6 per cent marks in her CBSE Class 12 boards, results of which were declared yesterday. Kafi was just three when a neighbour threw acid at her during a family dispute, blinding her forever. But the light of dreams refused to be put off by the darkness. After undergoing treatment for years for her serious injuries, Kafi enrolled in the Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh. Her father, Pawan, works as a peon in the Haryana secretariat and mother, Suman, is a homemaker. Both of them studied till Class 5 and were determined that their daughter would get every opportunity they did not. Kafi, then 10, went directly from Class 2 to Class 6 following treatment. "Initially, it was very difficult. But I kept studying and it became easier. My dream is to become an IAS officer. I study for about 2-3 hours daily," said the teenager, who chose humanities as her stream. She had pulled off an incredible feat in her Class 10 boards, too, when she scored 95.2 per cent. The family has been fighting a legal battle to seek justice for Kafi. "Our fight is on. I am studying hard so that one day, I can fight my case and get justice," the young achiever said. Kafi is not alone. The Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh has several success stories this time. While Kafi has topped the school for the visually impaired, Sumant Poddar has come second with 94 per cent and Gursharan Singh third with 93.6 per cent. As for Class 10 boards, Sunny Kumar Chauhan topped the school with 86.2 per cent, Sanskriti Sharma was second with 82.6 per cent and Nitika third with 78.6 per cent. According to authorities in the Institute for the Blind, a big challenge for visually impaired students is finding study material. Audio books and Braille books are rare and students largely depend on YouTube and other online platforms. Sumant Poddar said he did not follow a strict scheduled. "I studied when I felt like. I felt cricket with my friends when I could. Audio books and YouTube were a huge help," he said. Gursharan Singh said he had studied in the Hindi medium and that made it more difficult to get audiobooks. "I had to get others to record books so that I could study. But these hardships made me stronger," he said. The CBSE provides several exemptions to students with visual and other disabilities. These include a scribe facility, compensatory time during exams and flexibility in choosing subjects.
India.com
14-05-2025
- General
- India.com
Meet Kafi: Hisar Acid Attack Survivor Who Scored 95.6% In CBSE Board Result 2025 And Topped Chandigarh Blind School
In a world where resilience often remains unseen, 17-year-old Kafi from Hisar, Haryana, has emerged as a shining example of unwavering courage and academic excellence. A survivor of a horrific acid attack at the tender age of three, Kafi has not only fought through the darkness—both figurative and literal—but has also topped her school with a remarkable 95.6% in the CBSE Class 12 exams in the humanities stream. From Darkness to Determination Kafi's journey began in tragedy. Jealous neighbours attacked her with acid when she was just a toddler, leading to severe facial burns and the permanent loss of her eyesight. Her early years were spent in and out of hospitals, enduring six years of painful recovery. But amidst the physical trauma and emotional scars, Kafi's spirit remained unbroken. Once stable, she began her education at the Institute for the Blind in Sector 26, Chandigarh, at the age of eight. Learning Braille and adapting to her new world was no easy feat, but Kafi's hunger for knowledge was insatiable. Her reading speed in Braille, her memory retention, and her love for subjects like Geography and Political Science soon set her apart. Academic Brilliance and a Vision for the Future Kafi first made headlines when she scored 95.02% in her Class 10 board exams. Her consistent dedication and discipline continued into Class 12, where she not only matched but exceeded expectations. She scored full marks in History, Political Science, Geography, and Painting, and a near-perfect score in English. For Kafi, education is more than just academics—it's a path to empowerment. She dreams of studying Political Science at Delhi University and eventually becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Her ambition is rooted in her desire to serve the nation and create meaningful change. Chandigarh | 15-year-old Kafi, an acid attack survivor and daughter of a peon, scored 95.2% in her CBSE Class 10 results and became the topper of her school. "I studied for 5-6 hours every day. My parents and teachers supported me a lot. I want to become an IAS officer and serve… — ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2023 A Family's Unshakable Support Behind this unstoppable young woman is a family that never gave up on her. Her father, a peon in the secretariat, recalls the deep sorrow and helplessness he felt after the attack. 'My morale was shattered,' he admitted. 'But someone advised me to educate her. That changed everything. Today, Kafi has proved that advice right.' Her mother beams with pride: 'Kafi is good at studies, and because of her, we can walk with our heads held high in society. She has brought us honour and pride.' Kafi herself credits her parents' unwavering mental support and the guidance of her teachers for her success. She also acknowledged the role of the internet and YouTube in helping her access learning material and prepare for her exams independently. More Than a Personal Victory Kafi's story isn't just her own. It's a powerful message to countless others battling adversity, especially young girls in India facing violence, stigma, or disability. It's a reminder that with the right support system, educational access, and mental strength, even the most life-altering circumstances can be transformed into stepping stones to greatness. A Country Applauds Her Strength As India celebrated the CBSE Class 12 results on May 13, 2025, which saw a national pass percentage of 88.39% and girls outperforming boys once again, it was Kafi's achievement that captured hearts. In a system often biased against the disabled and marginalised, Kafi's rise to the top is not just commendable—it's revolutionary. While the justice system may have failed her in punishing her attackers, Kafi has redefined justice in her own way—by succeeding beyond anyone's imagination and showing the world that she cannot be defeated. Many users are sharing her inspiring story on social media and applauding her courage. Sharing her journey, Nikhil Saini wrote on X, "Meet Kafi—proof that no force is stronger than determination. Blinded at 3 in a horrific acid attack, she spent her childhood in hospitals. But she rose, not once but twice—topping Class 10 with 95.2% and now Class 12 with 95.6%. Limitless courage. Infinite hope." Meet Kafi—proof that no force is stronger than determination. Blinded at 3 in a horrific acid attack, she spent her childhood in hospitals. But she rose, not once but twice—topping Class 10 with 95.2% and now Class 12 with 95.6%. Limitless courage. Infinite hope. — Nikhil saini (@iNikhilsaini) May 14, 2025 The comments section was filled with appreciation. Lighting the Way for Others Kafi's journey is one of hope, strength, and vision—quite literally. She has turned her pain into power, her limitations into limitless possibilities. As she moves forward with her dream of joining the IAS and contributing to the nation, she stands as a beacon of inspiration for every child in India who dares to dream despite the odds. Let Kafi's story be remembered not just as one of academic excellence but as a triumph of the human spirit—a testimony to the strength that lies within when the world tries to write you off.
