The CET topper from Kashmir, Firdous Ahmad Ganaie, has made his parents proud by becoming the first-ever student in his village to qualify the exam, Syed Asma reports
Firdous Ahmed Ganaie, the topper who secured the second rank in the Common Entrance Test(CET) held recently is the first-ever student from his village to make it to the merit list. Firdous is from Palpora, Khag in district Budgam. Firdous achieved the 2nd rank in the test by securing 205 points in the exam.
It was Firdouse’s second attempt at the exam. In his first attempt he had been selected for Bachelor of Dental Surgery(BDS). I joined the course (BDS) last year for few months but due to unrest my classes were disturbed and I got enough time to read for another chance (of CET)”, says Firdous.
The topper has had his primary schooling from a local school of his village and then continued it from Green View Public High School in Magham.
Firdous prepared for this exam in a rented room at Qamawari staying with his elder brother. Being away from home had been an advantage for him. “We have a joint family and the small kids at home disrupted my studies.Being away from that environment helped me to study with concentration”, says Firdous.
Firdous lives with his parents, two brothers, uncle, aunt and their children. His father works as a sanitation store keeper in SKIMS and his mother is a housewife. He is the youngest among his brothers. His eldest brother has completed his Masters in Biotechnology and the other one is presently doing his graduation.
Firdous’s father, Hamzullah Ganaie, who has had a long association with doctors because of his job at SKIMS, wanted his children to be in the same profession. He had urged all his children to appear in CET at their respective times.While two of them failed to qualify, Firdous managed to.
Hamzullah used to get Firdous to the hospital with him and wanted him to get inspired by the doctors and their work. “My father used to take me with him to the hospital where he works. He would always tell me about the respect doctors enjoy in the society”, says Firdous admitting that this exercise of his father has influenced him to a great extent.
Besides, Firdous was inspired by the conditions their village faced because of the lack of doctors.
Hamzullah says that he lost his father to delayed medication and treatment.
“My father had a stroke and for two days we couldn’t get a vehicle because of some road widening exercise. On the third day, we somehow managed to take him to the hospital but it was too late,” says Hamzullah, “If we had a doctor nearby may be my father would have been treated in time”.
“We have a sub-health centre in our village but only medical assistants are working There is no doctor”, says Hamzullah.
Firdous has attended coaching classes to get through this exam and make it to his dream. He used to study for 12 hours a day.
“I believe a proper strategy, good management and full concentration can lead you to success”, says Firdous. He has aslo secured a distinction in his 10th as well as 11th standard.
By becoming a successful doctor, Firdous wants to help his villagers.He says that he will prefer to work in the city. “It will help the people of my to have access to Valley’s best medical facilities which according to him are rarely enjoyed by them.
Being a proud father, Hamzullah says he knew Firdous would get through this time. “In his first attempt, he looked gloomy after coming out of the examination hall which suggested that he hadn’t done well in the exam. But this time, he left the examination hall with confidence and had a spark in his eyes. I could make out that he will be in merit list this year”, says Hamzullah.
