NASIR YOUSIFI
SRINAGAR: While rolling a small pointed brush with his long fingers on a vase, a middle-aged father was astonished as soon as his daughter broke the news. His 15-year-old daughter topped the Board examinations.
Fida Hussain, a papier-mâché artisan from Khankhai Sokhta neighborhood in Srinagar’s downtown area, was unable to believe that his daughter was among the toppers in the list of successful candidates having cleared Class 10th JKBOSE examination Session-2023. Ishba Zehra, a student of CASET School, had secured 98 percent marks.
For a girl with a humble background, the feat speaks for itself. “It is like touching the sky with bare hands. It seems as if she has brought down a handful of stars onto the earth for the family and especially me. I am not able to express the immense joy her success has given to us,” said the visibly jubilant father Fida. It has emboldened our chests, he added.
The teenage girl has never availed any private tuitions or coaching. Apart from her school, the daughter of an artisan says that she used to learn from online tutorials and educational YouTube channels.
“Sometimes, it is difficult to understand a topic or find a solution to a mathematical problem from one teacher, but the internet provides multiple options to understand the same from a number of teachers online,” Ishba said. However, it is better to choose one teacher for a subject to maintain the consistency of thought and instincts, she opined.
Having registered a grand success in recent Board examinations, Ishba now aims to qualify for the NEET examination to become a good doctor.
“I want to serve mankind. Though there are many options to serve humanity, my aim is to serve people through my medical knowledge and skills. Doctors are saviors of life, and I want to become one of them,” said an optimistic Ishba.
While talking about her studies, Ishba emphasizes the importance of a proper strategy in preparing for examinations. Time management, hard work, and concentration are the key factors that play a pivotal role in the performance of the student. Students should distribute their time among the subjects as per their requirements and develop patience to study at a stretch. I used to study for 10 to 12 hours a day. But that was in the 10th class. In order to clear higher classes and qualify for the competitive NEET examination, I need to study for about 14 hours a day, she added.
With the success of his daughter, Fida feels boosted for his efforts. “Finally, it seems that our hard work and continuous care of our only child did bear fruit. Our daughter has reflected our intent and efforts in her Board results. Thanks to Almighty Allah for such bliss,” he said. Parents should take good care of their wards, provide genuine upbringing to the children, and support them in every fair cause, he opined.
“To study on your own without any tuition and come out with flying colors is a rare scenario nowadays. But this young girl is a striking example of steadfastness and hard work. With her sheer passion for studies, she has shown us that underprivileged students can also excel in every field of life, provided they have resolve and a strategy,” said Ali Mohammad Rather, a leading academician from Srinagar.
The neighbors as well as the relatives and friends of Ishba are all elated with her success.
“Such students are always an inspiration for other children. By studying and achieving prized success, she has set an example for other members of the community to follow suit. We feel very happy for her. The whole neighborhood feels proud of her. We want her to carry on all the good work and brighten the world with her intellect and knowledge,” said a local, a university graduate from her neighborhood in Khankhahi Sokhta Nawa Kadal in Srinagar.
While Ishba is busy with her studies, apart from pursuing her goal, she wants to follow in the footsteps of Syeda Fatima Zehra AS. “If every girl in the world would follow the teachings of the pious woman of the universe and the Holy Quran, the world would be a better place to live,” Ishba said adding that along with modern education, there is a dire need for moral education in society.
