New Delhi:
It is a dream come true for Mohammed Ismat, the all India CBSE topper from Imphal. He has got through St Stephens College in Delhi. The student from the Economic Weaker Section (EWS) category was not only the first student from the North East to score 495 out of 500, he also broke records by scoring four hundreds.
The youngest son of a maulana (priest) and a government school teacher, Ismat broke all records by scoring 99 per cent with a hundred each in maths, chemistry, home science and fine arts. He scored 98 in English and 97 in Physics. But the road from Imphal to Stephens hasn't been easy. "Even after scoring a 99 per cent I wasn't sure I would make it. It was a bit tough," says Ismat who wants to be an IAS officer. The only son among seven children, his parents struggled to get all their children educated. His six elder sisters are all graduates.
The first cut off list at Stephens for Physics was 95.6 per cent and Ismat qualified for it, so did 300 others. After the interview Ismat was among 70 selected for the next round and finally after the 50 per cent quota for Christian students and other categories, Ismat was among the 10 to get admission and a hostel accommodation. The ratio for admissions into the physics course is 1:6. "I'm happy and thank Allah for it. I had big dreams and my father could only pray hard so that my dreams could be fulfilled," says the shy Ismat, who is only getting used to the big buildings, the traffic and the crowd in the capital. "Ismat is a king and we only expect him to do great things in life" says Mohammed Rahman, his brother-in-law, who has accompanied him to Delhi for the admissions.
Ismat is hoping to get scholarships for his studies after securing an admission at the prestigious college. The course costs close to 45,000 for the first year alone with hostel accommodation.