Paanwala's son tops pharmacy stream

KENDRAPADA: Not only was it was a memorable day in the life of Abhiram Panda and his family, but also a proud moment for the villagers of Tina in Binjharpur block of Jajpur district. The son of a betel shop owner of this tiny village has topped the pharmacy category of the Orissa Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE).
"I own a paan shop and earn a very meagre amount.But I never neglected my son's needs as a student," said Abhiram's father Harish Chandra. Abhiram went to Tina Primary School and later studied at Sribanta High School in Binjharpur. "He secured first class in his board examination. He then joined Ravenshaw College," said a delighted Harish. "I even sold off my wife's gold ornaments and gave him Rs 25,000 to attend coaching classes in Bhubaneswar for a year. Every month, I used to send him Rs 2,000 for his studies," said Harish. His humble background did not stop him from dreaming big. He fought all odds to reach his goal.
Restricted financial condition of his family did not stand in the way of Abhiram from chasing his dream. After completing his higher secondary course in science stream, he prepared for OJEE in medical and pharmacy examinations to fulfill the dream of his parents and stood first in pharmacy and fourth in medical.
"The village boy has accomplished what millions his age can only dream. His brilliant achievement has left millions of English-medium school students way behind," said Panchana Jena, a teacher of Binjharpur.
"My hard labour has paid off. It is a myth that only English-medium students score higher than the Oriya-medium schoolchildren in the entrance examinations," said Abhiram.
"What could have been for a village boy than getting the topping the pharmacy category and coming fourth in the medical entrance examinations. At a time when government schools conjure up images of barren classrooms, poor result and blissfully absent teachers, Abhiram has made a striking point ," said Umakanta Samal the principal of BS Junior College in Binjharpur. tnn
The stream of villagers coming to the house of Abhiram to congratulate him continues unabated.
"I will serve the poor becoming a doctor so I decided to read medical in SCB medical college in Cuttack", said Abhiram.
Villagers on Thursday celebrated the success of where the village elders garlanded and blessed Abhiram . Emotions ran high when some of the village teachers garlanded him.
Joyous tears were also rolling down on the checks of Sanjulata the mother of Abhiram on Thursday when some of the villagers have also garlanded her and her husband for the achievements of their son.
"Poverty cannot be a hurdle in the face of determination and hard work," said Abhiram.