Son, mother pass but father fails exam
KRISHNAGAR: For Mondals of Uttar Patikabari village in Nadia district, who already made a record of sorts by studying in the same school and taking the higher secondary or Class 12 board examination under the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education together, Tuesday presented a mixed picture.
Thirty-two-year-old Kalyani, who studied under a tree while her goats grazed in the fields, passed the exam. Biplab, 18 was also successful after toiling for a number of hours during the day. But 42-year old Balaram, the head of the family and small farmer, failed the exam. Kalyani, who married Balaram when she was in Class 8, scored 45.6% or 228 out of 500 marks and her son got 50.6% or 253.
“The happiness would have been complete if my father had passed the exam too. But we will ensure he gets to study more next time,” Biplab told HT.
The family was an exceptional one with the parents and son studying the same subjects — Bengali, English, history, education, Sanskrit and philosophy — in Hazrapur High School in Dhantala of Nadia district.
Their only son Biplab took a private tuition and then taught his eager parents at home.
The mother and son now want to continue their journey together. “We want to take up the same subjects in the same college. It would allow us to cut costs on books and reference material,” Kalyani said.
Balaram is obviously not very happy with his results. “I want a review of my numbers. I was quite satisfied after the exams. I never expected this outcome. However, if there is no change after review, I would appear again next year,” he said.