16-year-old student ‘Kaafi’ from Chandigarh has set a new example with her unparalleled hard work and courage. She has topped her school by scoring 95.2% marks in the 12th board examination at the Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh. This achievement is even more inspiring because she was a victim of acid attack in her childhood.
Traumatic events and conflicts
When ‘Kaafi’ was just 3 years old, three men threw acid on her while she was playing Holi in her village Hisar. In this attack, she lost her eyesight forever. Her parents got her treated in many hospitals including AIIMS in Delhi, but to no avail. During this time, the family spent all their savings on her treatment. Finally, she got admitted to the Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh.
Excellence in Education
‘Kaafi’ studied with the help of Braille script, audio books and other assistive devices. He had also scored 95.2% marks in the 10th examination. Now he has performed brilliantly in 12th as well. His dream is to pass the UPSC exam and become an IAS officer.
Family support and struggle
Kaafi’s father, Pawan Kumar, works on contract at the Chandigarh Secretariat. He has made many sacrifices for his daughter’s education. He said that a lot of money was spent on Kaafi’s treatment. However, the attackers were given only two years of sentence, which has now been completed. This makes the family feel a lack of justice.