Class 10 Sanskrit board results: 30 years after father dropped out from same school, son tops state

Dehradun: Thirty years after Shyam Kukreti, a priest, dropped out of Brigadier Vidyadhar Juyal Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Bhuvneshwari Sidhpeeth Sitonsyu in Pauri Garhwal district to earn a living for his family, his son, Alok Kukreti, topped the state in the Class 10 Sanskrit board exams by scoring 90%.
Alok's day begins at 5am at the school's Gurukul. After morning prayers and chores, he prepares for his lessons. His dedication to gaining as much knowledge as he could from a young age, despite financial struggles, helped him clear the exam with flying colours.
Shyam Kukreti recalls how his son was rarely seen without a book. "He dreams big, and all of us are only along for the ride," said Kukreti senior. His wife, a homemaker, takes care of their children and assists Shyam in his duties.
When Shyam left school, earning an income took precedence over education. But he worked tirelessly to ensure Alok received the education he could not. With two older daughters and limited means, the family struggled to meet Alok's educational expenses until a relative stepped in to help.
After the results were declared on Thursday, Alok said, "I want to be a teacher and make sure everyone gets the education they are entitled to." The school's principal, Ansuya Prasad Sundariyal, remembers Shyam fondly and the regrets that came with leaving his education unfinished. "Alok is now fulfilling dreams that Shyam in 1995 had to abandon. He is a gifted individual and holds a keen interest in classical music as well," she said.
The school performed well in the exams, securing the first, third, fifth, and seventh ranks in the Class 10 board exams. The state's second ranker in the Class 12 board exams, Shaurya Kaushik, also belongs to the same school and scored 92.4%.
Pankaj Joshi from Bhingrada village in the Pati block of Champawat district, secured the second position in the Class 10 boards and scored 89%. His father, Hem Chandra Joshi, is a teacher, and his mother a homemaker. The family said Pankaj has an "artist's soul", with a deep interest in Sanskrit literature and Indian philosophy, and hopes to become a teacher.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Mamgai from Shri Jay Dayal Agarwal Sanskrit School in Srinagar, Pauri, topped the state in the Class 12 exams with 94%. He had also secured the second rank in his Class 10 exams in 2023. "We are proud of his achievements and support him in his dream of becoming a professor," said Jagdeesh Saklani, principal of the school, which had a 100% pass percentage this year.
Sanskrit schools, though fewer in number, consistently perform well, officials said. "We are the first board in the country to declare the results, and although it's been good, efforts are always underway to improve further," said Dr Anand Bharadwaj, director of Sanskrit education.
(With inputs from Prem Punetha)