By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Mohammad Ismat from Manipur has topped the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE), 2012 for Class XII conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), scoring 495 marks out of 500 (99.6%) in Science stream. He also became the first from North-East India to top the AISSCE.
A student of Zenith Academy at Sangaiprou, Imphal, Ismat scored 100 out of 100 in Mathematics, Chemistry, Painting and Home Science.
Mohammad Ismat and his father
21 year-old Ismat, a resident of Lilong Haoreibi Mayai Leikai, Lilong in Thoubal district, comes from a poor family. He is the son of Maulana Bashirur Rahman and Shahidan Bibi. Ismat’s mother died when he was quite young. Ismat is the youngest of 7 siblings and the only boy. His father, teacher at a Lower Primary Madrassa, manages to educate his son with great difficulties.
Ismat studied till Class VIII at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Imphal. He then joined Sainik School at Imphal. He scored 94.2% in the CBSE Exam for Class X. He had to leave Sainik School as his father could not afford the expenditures required for further studies.
In an interview with media-persons Ismat said that he had to spend most of the time in his school as his village gets just 2-3 hours of electricity in a day. He studied 8-10 hours every day. He thanked the managing and the teaching staffs of his school for giving him support. As expressed by the Management Secretary of Zenith Academy, Imphal S.M. Singh, Ismat nearly missed out filling his Class XII registration forms as he couldn’t afford the amount required for the registration. Singh came to know about it and paid the required amount. Singh further said that Ismat stayed with him most of the time and provided the reading materials that Ismat needed. Ismat is physically weak and had to be stopped from studying for long hours, Singh added.
Ismat’s father said that weak health and financial problem were the main obstacles in his son’s study. He is happy and grateful to Almighty that his son has defied these odds and came out with flying colours, the father added.
Ismat desires to get admission in St Stephens’ College in Delhi. He is interested in studying Physics and become a scientist. He also hopes to write the Civil Services Exam after getting university degree.
Ismat has been offered financial assistance from various corners for his extraordinary achievement. Zenith Academy has announced that the school management committee would take care of all the financial requirements of Ismat for his further studies. Md. Abdul Nasir, MLA of Lilong Assembly Constituency and Minister in-charge of Agriculture and Sericulture has announced a cash reward of Rs. 1,11,111 for his achievement. MLA N. Biren has also assured to offer a cash prize of Rs. 20,000 to Ismat. Manipur State Minorities Commission has also decided to extend all possible assistance to Ismat.
Giving his message to the students of the State, Ismat said that one must control his/her desire, direct their action to a specific aim, live simple and think high rather than paying more attention to fashion and luxury. Everything is possible when a man is determined. This is the mantra for the success, he added.