Extraordinary achievements in arts and academics propel students to perfect scores
Khushi Shinde with her parents
An astounding 187 students in Maharashtra have achieved the remarkable feat of scoring a perfect 100 out of 100 in their Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Board exams this year. Among these high achievers, eight students hail from regions under the Mumbai divisional board.
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A sense of excitement gripped the Shinde household as their daughter, Khushi Shinde, a student of Dr S. Radhakrishnan International School in Malad West, aced the SSC exams with a perfect score of 500 out of 500. Khushi scored 485 marks and received an additional 15 marks from the board for her achievements in arts. Both of Khushi’s parents are teachers by profession.
Purva Shirke with her parents
Talking about his daughter’s achievement, Rajendra Shinde, Khushi’s father, said, “My daughter, Khushi, has done her studies independently. She did not join private tuitions or coaching classes, except for the Sanskrit language subject. At home, her study doubts were cleared by her mother, Rewa Shinde, who is a Physics teacher at a junior college. This success is the result of the support and encouragement given to her by the school teachers, along with her own hard work.”
Apart from her academics, Khushi has passed the Kathak dance Madhyama exam from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya with first class. She has also passed the intermediate drawing exam with an A grade, her father proudly shared.
The other students from the Mumbai division who scored 100 percent are Ananya Kulkarni from Saraswati Secondary School in Naupada-Thane, Anushka Kale from Anandibai Keshav Joshi English Medium School in Thane, Aarya Dhavle and Prathamesh Date from Sister Nivedita High School in Dombivli East, Sharvi Mahante from Carmelite Convent English High School in Vasai, Shrushti Kale from NRC Colony School in Kalyan, and Purva Shirke from Carmel Convent High School in Badlapur.
Aarya Dhavle and Prathamesh Date
Prathamesh Date, another student who scored 100 marks, said he expected to score around 96 per cent, so 100 per cent was a total surprise for him and his parents. “I got the additional marks from arts that are under music. I am currently learning to play the tabla. I plan to opt for the science stream in junior college but haven’t decided on a specialisation yet.”
Similarly, Aarya Dhavle, also a student of Sister Nivedita High School in Dombivli East, did not expect to score 100 per cent. “When I checked it, I felt as if it was some sort of error. My parents and I were very shocked initially. It took time to sink in that I had actually scored 100 per cent. I was awarded an additional 15 marks for arts under the dance category. I have completed all seven exams of Bharatnatyam. I expected to score a little above 95 percent. I wish to pursue engineering but haven’t decided on which stream of engineering yet,” Dhavle said.
Purva Shirke, a student of Carmel Convent High School in Badlapur, actually scored 503 out of 500 with her additional 15 marks. However, the board brought it down to 500 to level it up by awarding her 12 instead of 15 marks, resulting in her perfect score.
“I have completed five exams of Bharatnatyam and was awarded additional marks under the arts category. Right now, my entire family and I are so overwhelmed; no one in my family has ever scored such high marks,” she said, laughing. “I wish to appear for JEE exams and pursue engineering. I’m not sure which stream of engineering yet, but something related to computer science and software,” she added.