Kolkata:Creating a record, an arts student of Jalpaiguri Zilla School in North Bengal, Granthan Sengupta topped this year’s higher secondary examination with 99.2 per cent marks scoring 496 out of 500 as the district schools ruled the top 10 list.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who congratulated all the successful candidates and conveyed her best wishes to them for their career, also called up Granthan. While talking to her, the topper said, “I want to study history at the Jadavpur University and want to become a professor in that subject.”
Congratulating Granthan, state education minister Partha Chatterjee said, “I have never heard an arts student standing first since the higher secondary examination was introduced in our state. Our idea was that good marks cannot be scored arts stream but only in science stream.”
He elaborated, “But Granthan beat them all. He has not only topped the examination, but has also made us proud. He wants to pursue his higher studies in history. I have already spoken to the JU’s HoD history to get him enrolled. He has agreed with me.”
Elated with Granthan bagging the first position, eminent Bengali singer Indrani Sen said, “When I had passed out the higher secondary examination, I stood first among the girls, while coming third in the list. But what this student has achieved is beyond imagination. I know him very well. He sings very well and is also skilled in acting.” She added, “His mother is a danseuse. I am feeling happy over his performance.”
Rittick Kumar Sahoo, a science student from Tamluk Hamilton High School in East Midnapore, came second with 98.6 per cent marks at 493. The third position was jointly held by Timirbaran Das of Burdwan Municipality High School and Shashwata Roy of Ramkrishna Mission Vidyabhavan of West Midnapore with 98 per cent marks.
They were followed by six students, including five from districts, who shared the fourth position scoring 487 marks with 97.4 per cent. Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi also greeted the successful students.
A statement from Raj Bhavan said, “Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi congratulates all the successful candidates of higher secondary examination 2018 as well as their teachers and guardians. He wishes they become successful in life and take part in serving the nation. Those whose attempts were futile this year need not despair. They should remember that they will again get a chance to prove themselves. I wish them all success.”
The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, which announced the result informed that the pass percentage was around 83.75 per cent at the Class 12 examination.
