Pune girl writes HSC exam with her feet, scores 66 pc

A girl born without arms secured 66% marks in the recently announced results of the 12th standard exams (HSC) conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. Laxmi Sanjay Shinde, who aspires to become an IAS officer, wrote her exams with her feet after she refused a writer provided by the state board.

The 17-year-old girl, a student of Walchand College of Arts and Science, Solapur, was born without hands. Her hard work, dedication, and the resolve to succeed against all odds has become an inspiration and role model for others.

“Yes, I come from a low-income family, live in a small house and cannot afford to join a coaching class. But my dream is far bigger as compared to these obstacles,’’ Laxmi said after the results were announced recently.The Shinde family lives in the Shivaji Nagar area of Solapur city.

Laxmi’s father, Sanjay, an autorickshaw driver, drove her to school daily. At home, she worked hard for exams.

“I like Sanskrit,social science and Marathi subjects. I have now started preparing for my civil services exams by joining a coaching class in Solapur,’’she said.This is not the first time that Laxmi has cleared a major exam. She wrote the computer literacy exam MS-CIT with her feet and cleared it. Giving credit to her parents and teachers for her success, Laxmi said her parents are her inspiration.

“We, her parents, are both illiterate. We cannot send her for coaching classes because of our low income,’’ Laxmi’s father Sanjay said, adding that the family is yet to get any government support.

“I have four sisters and one brother. I will work hard and assist my parents so that my siblings get good education,” she said.