Mumbai: His physical disability was no hindrance for Anees Farooqi, a student of Scholars High School, Jogeshwari, Mumbai who used the best of his mental abilities to score 83.64 per cent in the SSC Board examination and top his school.
While most parents scold their children for failing in an examination, Anees' father had challenged him to fail, if he wanted to win a surprise gift.
Not only did Anees pass the examination, but also topped his school with a good percentage, reports Mid Day.
It was a welcome surprise for his parents, who attribute the success to their son's unflagging will power.
"Though I lost my challenge with my son, he has made me proud today by his score. He has a great will power. The SSC board has categorised him as a handicap, but he is not. He just has a physical disability."
A resident of Jogeshwari, Anees has muscular dystrophy and needs to be put on ventilator sometimes for 20 hours a day. His goal was to achieve 80 per cent and he prepared for it by studying at least two hours a day.
The days he attended school, he was put on ventilation for six hours only. At times, he could sit up for three to four hours, at other times, not even for 30 minutes. He had a writer during his examination.
Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of hereditary muscle disease that weaken muscles that move the human body. Muscular dystrophies are characterised by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins and the death of muscle cells and tissues.
Anees is grateful to his school for helping him pass. "I want to thank my school, tuition teacher, family and writer for their support. I was confident that I would score above 80 per cent. Now I have asked my father to gift me two days stay in Taj Hotel," he said with a gleam. Shakeela Mirza, principal of his school, said, "Anees is the topper in our school. He is a wonderful child and we have tried our best to help him in whatever way we can."
Anees scored 460 out of 550 in his exam. He scored the highest in mathematics, which was 142 out of 150. In social science, he got 83 per cent. Anees' doctor, Shobha Sharma said, "I am on cloud nine. Anees has got amazing will power."
