7-km on a bicycle through rain and shine: Here's the story of Cachar's Sinam Jaiphabi Chanu, who secured 4th place in HSLCE

On the morning of May 22, the people of Silchar sparked with joy as three students from the city scored good marks to secure rank in the merit list of top 10. Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA) declared the results for High School Leaving Certificate Examination (HSLCE). The topper among all happened to be Sinam Jaiphabi Chanu of Holy Cross School, who scored 591 marks out of 600.

Many residents of Barak Valley shared “Holy Cross an eibaar duita stand” referring to the famous Holy Cross School of Rangirkhari in Silchar. But Chanu studies in a different Holy Cross – the lesser-known Holy Cross School in Kabuganj. The Christian missionary school has fetched a rankholder for the firs time since its inception.

Chanu is a resident of Chanpur GP in Sonai Legislative Assembly Constituency. It is in so much interior, that it took Barak Bulletin’s reporter more than an hour to reach her residence. Navigating through kuccha rasta by the river, when the reporter reached her house, he realised, this story has more than great marks.

Her younger brother too goes to school overcoming all adversities. Her mother is a housewife and his father runs the family by renting out his truck. She rode on a bicycle for seven kilometers every day through rain and shine to reach school.

Chanu added that unlike her friends, she never took admission to private tuition. She studied hard at home, did meditation in the morning and used to go for a run every evening without fail.

“Just before the examination, I went to a teacher for some guidance for about 20 days and that is the only private tuition I pursued,” Chanu said while speaking with Barak Bulletin. Joyous neighbours in the area, however, shared that the family is going through a financial crisis and they fear that the family might not afford higher education.

Her humble background helped her see opportunity in adversity and so, going to the school on a cycle was never a hindrance. In the future, she wants to study harder and become a Software Engineer.

“Once my father returns, I will talk to him and decide the future plan of action. I am determined that I want to become a Software Engineer but I am yet to figure out my road to becoming an Engineer. It won’t be an easy one for sure, but I am prepared,” Chanu Concluded while speaking with Barak Bulletin.