Sheer will power and courage helped Gourav Prasad overcome financial constraints and score 91 percent in his Higher Secondary examination, the results of which were announced recently.
Gaurav has submitted application forms for admission to St Xavier's College, Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration and City College of Commerce. Gaurav dreams of becoming a chartered accountant one day.
Born in the abandoned labour quarters of Bengal Lamp in Jadavpur, Gaurav has faced financial crisis from childhood. His father is a mechanic and his mother a housewife. Unlike other parents, they encouraged Gaurav to continue with his studies and did not force him to take up a job to support the family financially.
"I used to study for four to five hours a day and my parents have always supported me," Gaurav said. After the results were declared, Gaurav has become a hero to the boys and girls of the slum.
Along with his studies, Gaurav is also associated from early childhood with Anando, an NGO working with disadvantaged children. The NGO has been working since 2006. The programme with which Gaurav is associated is called Hottogol and is a weekend activity club for children from the slums in and around Jadavpur. It takes place every Sunday at Anando.