For night schoolers, brighter days ahead

PUNE: At 31, auto rickshaw driver Ashish Agarwal managed to complete a task he left midway nearly two decades ago. He finished school. On Tuesday, Agarwal cleared SSC with 62% and said he fulfilled his mother's dream.
"My mother wanted me to study and do well, but at 13 I started working as a cook. I later began to drive the rickshaw and then got married. But I always had the urge to complete my education and enrolled into the Saraswati Vidya Mandir Night School," said Agarwal.
Agarwal wanted to complete his education for another reason as well. "I learnt so I could teach my children. I drove the rickshaw during the day and studied in the night. It was often difficult to manage work, family and studies, but I kept going for my mother's sake. I scored 62% marks, more than I had hoped for. I cannot wait to pass Class XII," said Agarwal, who wants to start a photocopy business.
His batchmate, Vitthal Deshmukh (17), hails from a village in Jalna and works as a waiter in a city restaurant. He scored 62%.
"I work from 6 am to 6 pm and then go to the night school. I want to become a police officer and give back to the society in some way," said Deshmukh, who was supported by his employer, Ashish Rajput, in his pursuit.
The night school's topper, Ketan Bede (19), scored 68%. Son of a construction worker, Bede works in a stationery shop from 10 am to 6 pm and earns Rs 6,000 a month. His father makes Rs 500 a day. "I quit school two years ago when I started working to support my family. I later joined night school. After SSC, I see a future that may have a lot to offer," he added.