Father’s demise instils purpose in Class XII boy, writes board exam before performing last rites

SALEM: G Manikandan was not a studious student. But his father S Ganesan’s demise on Monday night seems to have changed his attitude to studies and instilled in him a purpose. So, instead of skipping the Class XII board exam on Tuesday, he wrote it before performing his father’s last rites because he knew he should “find a job and support the family.”
Manikandan’s father S Ganesan, 55, who was a tailor in Achankuttapatty village in Salem district, was the family's sole breadwinner. His wife Saroja is a housewife. Besides Manikandan, the couple has two daughters. The elder daughter is married while the younger one, who completed Class XII last year, could not join college due to financial constraints.
Ganesan had been experiencing breathing difficulties for the past month. He was admitted to Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital. He had been diagnosed with a heart ailment, said their relative A Satheesh Kumar
A few days ago, his condition deteriorated, and the family got him discharged from hospital to let him die peacefully at home.
After Ganesan’s death, Manikandan thought for a moment whether he should appear for the history exam on Tuesday. But he took the decision soon. “My mother and sisters supported my decision to write the exam on Tuesday," the boy said.
After writing the exam in the Achankuttapatty Govt Higher Secondary School, he performed the last rites of his father around 4pm.
He was confident that he had written the exam very well despite his loss. "I will finish college and find a job to support my family," he said.