DHARAMSHALA: In an inspiring tale of perseverance and determination, Saina, a student from Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh has defied odds to secure the 10th position in the Class 12 arts stream merit list of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE).
She scored 472 out of 500 marks () in the HPBOSE exams, the results of which were declared on Saturday (May 17, 2025). A student of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Kangoo, in Hamirpur’s Nadaun and a resident of Manjheli village (Kangoo post office), she earned the fifth position in the district.
Saina’s success comes at a time when her family is battling severe challenges — the most daunting being her father Ashwani Kumar’s prolonged fight with cancer. For her family, this academic achievement has arrived as a much-needed balm amid years of emotional and financial strain.
Journey marked by struggle and strength
Saina’s father was a truck driver in Delhi until 2021 when he began experiencing severe back pain. Medical investigations revealed a devastating diagnosis — third-stage cancer.
Unable to continue working, he returned to Hamirpur and the family’s financial burden deepened. Saina, then just in Class 8, witnessed her family’s struggle closely.
In a bid to support his household, Ashwani took out a loan and began driving an auto-rickshaw after partial recovery. Despite this, the family continued to face economic hardships, relying on support from relatives, especially Saina’s maternal uncle who promised to fund her higher education if she scored above 90% in Class 12. And she has scored 94.4%.
Turning adversity into fuel for success
Saina remained unwavering in her academic goals. Lacking resources and study material, she balanced school learning with online self-study, making the most of every opportunity. Her focus, hard work and resilience led to an outstanding result that has inspired many.
She dreams of becoming an IPS officer and is determined to continue her education, not just for herself, but as a tribute to her parents’ sacrifices and unwavering belief in her. Her elder sister Meena had to give up her own education after graduation due to financial constraints, a reality Saina is determined to change for herself.
Saina credits her achievement to the constant encouragement of her parents, uncle and extended family, who stood by her in their toughest times. Her mother Kanchan Devi, a homemaker, has been a pillar of emotional support through the family’s trials.
Pallavi Sharma
