Acid Attack Survivor Kafi Scores 95.6% in CBSE Class 12

Chandigarh, May 15:In a story of grit and determination, 17-year-old Kafi, a visually impaired student of the Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh, has scored an outstanding 95.6% in the CBSE Class 12 board examinations, results of which were announced yesterday.

Kafi lost her eyesight at the age of three when a neighbour threw acid on her during a family dispute. Despite the life-altering injury, her spirit remained unshaken. After years of medical treatment, she joined the Institute for the Blind and began her academic journey with full dedication.

Her parents, Pawan, a peon at the Haryana Secretariat, and Suman, a homemaker, studied only till Class 5. But they were determined to give their daughter every opportunity they missed. “It was very tough in the beginning, but I never gave up,” said Kafi, who chose the humanities stream. She dreams of becoming an IAS officer and currently studies 2–3 hours daily.

Kafi had earlier scored 95.2% in her Class 10 board exams. Her journey continues alongside a legal battle for justice. “I want to become a civil servant and fight my own case one day,” she said.

She is not the only achiever at the Institute. Sumant Poddar secured second position in Class 12 with 94%, and Gursharan Singh stood third with 93.6%. In Class 10, Sunny Kumar Chauhan topped with 86.2%, followed by Sanskriti Sharma at 82.6%, and Nitika at 78.6%.

Despite limited resources, these students have shown exceptional results. Institute authorities highlighted the scarcity of study materials such as audio and Braille books. Most students rely on YouTube and other online platforms for preparation.

Sumant shared, “I didn’t follow a fixed timetable. I studied when I felt like it and also played cricket with my friends. YouTube and audiobooks helped a lot.” Gursharan, who studied in the Hindi medium, said it was difficult to find study material. “I had to ask others to record my textbooks. It made me stronger.”

The achievements of these students stand as a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished through courage, hard work, and the will to rise above challenges.