On hearing the word ‘cancer’ anyone else would have either succumbed to stress or would have given up any hopes of appearing for an exam let alone doing well, but that is not the case here. This is the undeterred story of Ranchi boy Priyabrat Padhi who has scored 96.4 per cent marks in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 board examination 2020, the results for which were declared on July 15 while getting treated for a chronic ailment.
The 16- year old student of DAV Bariatu secured the third spot in the school. He has scored a 98 in Sanskrit, 96 in English and Maths Standard, 97 in Science and 95 in both Computer Application and Social Studies.
For Priyabrat who was suffering from Hodkgin Lymphoma Cancer of the third stage, the battle started in early September 2019 with recurrent high fever, weakness and nausea. Upon visiting various doctors and getting numerous tests done, it was finally diagnosed by the end of the month. The doctor treating him prescribed a session of 12 chemotherapies which started in October in Delhi.
“Because I had to appear for my boards in March, travelling to and from Delhi every 15 days was a waste of time. So after nine sessions in Delhi, we decided to get the remaining three done here in Ranchi. The last two sessions were held in between my final exams right before two very crucial papers- Science and Social Studies,” said Priyabrat.
Priyabrat who aims to be a cardiologist or a neurosurgeon in life, prepared for the board exams well in advance. “I knew I had to do well and prove myself to the world. I did not want anyone to say that because of my illness, I did not score well. For this I started making notes for the various subjects. My parents, teachers and friends have also been immensely supportive throughout this journey,” added the student.
“I was not too keen to undergo the last two chemos which fell in between my exams as I was scared of the weakness it causes but that really wasn’t an option. For this I urged myself to recover in one day as against two days and pushed myself to prepare for the papers,” he said.
Born in Jajpur Road, Odisha, he came to Ranchi with his parents at the age of one and feels that he has been able to achieve this only with the blessings of his parents and support from his school. “My parents and my elder brother gave me the confidence to do it. It is only because of their hard work that I have now recovered and I hope that I am able to make them proud one day,” he added.
A resident of Bariatu Housing Colony, his father NC Padhi is a senior English teacher at DAV Public School, Hehal while his mother Renubala Padhi is a home maker.
“During the last chemotherapy, he was not willing to get it done. It was the doctors who convinced him to go for it. It has been a very distributing period for the whole family but I am glad we have come out of it victorious. As a parent I just pray for his well being and a long healthy life,” said an emotional father.