Telling Topper

Achieving third rank in 2014 CET exams was no cakewalk for a Sopore boy whose father was devoured by Kashmir conflict. Riyaz Ul Khaliq & Saima Rashid profile the topper who smiled his way to the top slot by maintaining a simple approach of study

Tufail Ashoor

Toppers in every field of life are known for their extraordinary traits. They aren’t different, but are known for doing things differently. A Sopore boy who finished third in 2014 JKCET exams belongs to the same frame of mind. He doesn’t call himself ‘different’, but asserts that his efforts for cracking the exam were indeed different.

But emerging topper isn’t a new experience for Tufail Ashoor Bhat, 18, of Dangerpora from Apple town Sopore. For a boy, who rates himself as an average student, the feat came after putting up persistent efforts and after maintaining consistency in his studies.

In his second stint with CET, Tufail scored 182.6 points out of 210. Last year he missed the chance of getting into MBBS cadre by just 0.6 points.

“I got selected in bachelors of dental surgery (BDS) last year,” says Tufail, in a very brisk tone, “but counting myself among the MBBS crackers was my priority, rather it was my passion.”

After failing to figure in MBBS list in his first attempt, Tufail availed coaching from Srinagar’s coaching hub, Parra Pora. And with that began a period of strenuous efforts to crack the coveted list. “A blend of my tutor’s guidance and self study made it possible for me to make my way into medical course,” says Tufail. “I kept my study simple by focusing on the basics.”

But before his MBBS feat, Tufail was like any other student who did his primary schooling from AFI Model School in his hometown. He moved to Sainik School Manasbal through the scheduled entrance of the very school, where he studied up to class 12. He later passed the class with 88.8% by finishing the topper of his school.

“The journey of Sainik School proved quite productive for me,” asserts Tufail, “my basic concepts in all the subjects prescribed in entrance exams were very clear.”

But for the son of a slain father, achieving success came after enduring a tough mental battle. During the same period, he says, his mother stood by him like a rock. And now, he dedicates all his achievements to her for supporting him mentally, psychologically or emotionally.

Tufail was studying in first standard on January 5, 2001, when he was orphaned. On that day, when his father, Mohammad Ashoor Bhat was returning home from market at around 7 pm in the evening, some unidentified armed men fired on him, killing him instantly. At the time of his father‘s killing, his brother was in fourth standard, while as, his sister was studying in seventh standard. His father was in fruit business and had distanced himself from militancy.

“It was hard for a seven-year-old boy to comprehend the importance of losing a father,” says Tufail, in an apparently sad tone. “I had no idea that ‘late’ prefix would be added to my parentage now.”

After his father’s killing, it was Tufail’s grandfather and two uncles who shouldered the responsibility of Tufail and his siblings. “My father’s death was a great loss for me, but my grandpa and uncles have nourished me in such a way that I never felt missing my father,” he says. “But I pray no one’s father dies like I lost my father.”

Tufail’s brother is a final year student at Degree College Sopore, while his sister was married off after finishing her Fazila course.

His teachers describe him the most obedient and hard working guy. “The three things – hard work, obedience and intelligence that define a successful student are imbibed in Tufail,” says his teacher, GM Shah, who taught Tufail at Sainik School.

Now after emerging with flying colours in medical entrance examination which yearly sees participation of thousands of medical aspirants, Tufail says that consistency in self study is the key to crack the exam. Only paying large amount of bucks to professors doesn’t work, he says, rather proper concentration, attention during your classes and dedication towards your target actually speaks louder in the world of success.

“I used to study for 10 hours a day,” he says, “but maybe you can make it possible in only 3 hours, as mental faculties vary. The only thing which matters the most is being loyal to one’s study.”

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