His mother did not want him to appear for the HSC exams, but Jaipal Suryavanshi took everybody by surprise on February 26 when he announced his arrival at Byculla’s Akbar Peerbhoy College by an ambulance siren.
Barely able to lift his arm but determined to write the paper on his own, the Dindoshi resident could manage to write only for 90 minutes — a remarkable feat for someone who was stabbed six days ago.
The 21-year-old student of Sanskardham Commerce College in Goregaon was reportedly stabbed by four youngsters on February 20 when he was out for a walk with a friend. “Though I knew the attackers, I don’t know why they stabbed me,” he said. “I have never had a fight with them. My friend escaped unhurt but they stabbed me in the chest.”
He was taken to Borivili’s Bhagwati hospital and later shifted to Nair hospital. “He has received multiple stitches and cannot use his right hand properly, which he writes with,” said his mother Avidya.
“My father died three years ago, just before my Class 10 exams and I didn’t write them for two years,” said Jaipal, who has now been discharged from hospital. “I can’t afford to lose another year. I want to do a government job and will apply as soon as I pass this exam.”
{{/usCountry}}“My father died three years ago, just before my Class 10 exams and I didn’t write them for two years,” said Jaipal, who has now been discharged from hospital. “I can’t afford to lose another year. I want to do a government job and will apply as soon as I pass this exam.”
{{/usCountry}}He called up the board helpline and requested for another exam centre, closer to Nair hospital. “He was checked for medical fitness and taken to the exam centre in an ambulance. Before he was discharged, we confirmed that he didn’t have air collection in the skin or any other organ,” said Dr Mahesh Shah, deputy dean of Nair hospital.
“The student’s centre will be changed (again) as per his request. If his hand hurts he can ask for a writer or extra time to complete the paper,” said Basanti Roy, divisional secretary, Mumbai board.
(inputs from Kiran Wadhwa)