In a small village in Srikakulam district, celebrations erupted as 16-year-old Dunga Tejeswara Rao, a student of Narayana Educational Institutions, achieved an outstanding 598 out of 600 marks in the SSC examination, securing a position among the state toppers.
Background and Family Struggles
The son of a tailor, Tejeswara Rao hails from a low-income family. Despite financial constraints, he emphasized that his parents ensured their hardships never hindered his academic focus. "There were problems, but my parents never let them reach me. They made sure I could concentrate solely on my studies," he stated.
He dedicated nearly 12 hours daily to studying. "I didn't expect 598 marks. I just studied with the aim of making my parents proud. People in my village celebrated my result," he added.
Future Aspirations
Tejeswara Rao now plans to pursue MPC (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry) in intermediate and aims to become a software engineer. He credited his teachers, Rama Rao and Gowri Prasad, for their invaluable guidance during his preparation.
Father's Determination
His father, Paparao, the sole breadwinner of the family, expressed unwavering resolve to educate both his children despite financial difficulties. "My income is not steady. I earn around ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month, and sometimes it is hard to provide everything, but I want my children to study as much as they can," he said.
Paparao noted that he has faced numerous hardships and received support from friends. He pointed out that funding higher education remains a concern, especially after spending significantly on his elder son, Chanakya, who qualified in JEE Main with a 96 percentile. He added that government support would help them continue their younger son's education.
Conclusion
With strong academic performance but limited financial means, the family now hopes to find a way to support Tejeswara Rao's intermediate education. His remarkable achievement serves as an inspiration to many in his village and beyond.
