Odisha: Vegetable vendor’s daughter tops in +2 science, dreams of becoming a doctor

By Ganesh Raju

Gajapati, May 21: In an inspiring story of grit, sacrifice and determination, Naishmita Sahu, the daughter of a vegetable vendor from a remote village in Odisha’s Gajapati district, has emerged as the district topper in the Plus II Science examination by securing an outstanding 560 marks out of 600.

Naishmita, a resident of Betarsing village under Mohana block, scored an impressive 93.03 per cent, bringing laurels not only to her family but also to her school and the entire district. She is a student of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Department Higher Secondary School in Mohana.

Behind her remarkable success lies years of hardship and perseverance. Her father earns a modest living by travelling from market to market selling vegetables, often struggling to make ends meet. Yet, despite financial constraints, the family never allowed poverty to become an obstacle in Naishmita’s education.

With unwavering dedication, disciplined study habits and strong family support, Naishmita transformed her dream into reality. While many students rely heavily on coaching centres, she devoted nearly eight hours every day to self-study after returning from college.

“My family members and everyone in the village are extremely happy about my result. I used to study for around eight hours daily apart from college hours. My teachers guided me at every step and even provided books whenever I needed them. My mother would stay awake till late at night whenever I studied, just to make sure I was fine. Their support kept me motivated,” Naishmita said with a smile.

The young achiever now nurtures an even bigger dream — to become a doctor and serve society.

“I want to become a doctor in future and continue my studies with the same dedication,” she added.

For her parents, the result is the reward for years of sacrifice and silent struggle.

“We are extremely proud of our daughter. She has always been sincere towards her studies, and we supported her in every possible way despite our financial difficulties,” said her mother, her voice filled with emotion.

Her father, who spent years selling vegetables to fund his daughter’s education, said his faith in her never wavered.

“I worked very hard to educate my daughter. I always believed she would succeed one day. Her dream is to become a doctor, and I pray to God to help her fulfil it and achieve great success in life,” he said.

Naishmita’s success story has now become a beacon of hope for countless students from economically weaker backgrounds, proving that determination, family support and hard work can overcome even the toughest challenges.