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| Edited By: Mihika Basu |Source: DNA |Updated: May 20, 2010, 12:51 AM IST
For the third time running, the all-India topper in ICSE Board’s Std X examinations is from Mumbai.
Janvi Thosani of Lilavatibai Podar Senior Secondary High School at Santa Cruz secured 98.80% (English and best of four subjects) in the ICSE exam, results for which were announced on Wednesday.
In 2009, Rishi Mehta of Jamnabai Narsee School at Juhu had topped the ICSE exam nationally with 98.29%, and the year before that, Janki Sheth of Thane’s Sulochanadevi Singhania School with 98.6% shared her position as Std X all-India topper with Shruti Singh of St Joseph Convent in Varanasi.
Obviously, this year’s topper — Janvi — put in a lot of effort to perform well in the board exams, but she hardly comes across as pedant. She has other interests and has a sense of humour to boot.
“I had aspired to be a topper in my school and had worked very hard towards it. But I had never expected to be the all-India topper. I feel ecstatic,” said Thosani, adding with a chuckle, “Now, I have to host many parties for my friends and my parents’ friends. It’s been an expensive result.” She scored 100 in four subjects.
Thosani said that it’s not just the board exams, she had been consistently studying hard even for the unit tests, and the terminal and prelims exams in the school. “But I am very outgoing and was the school captain of my house. I regularly participated in calligraphy, drawing, and elocution. I love playing badminton and tennis,” said the 15-year-old.
Thosani now plans to pursue commerce. “I want to study BCom from NM College. Thereafter, I want to do chartered accountancy and I may start my own business,” she said.
Academicians attributed the consistency with which the city was churning out toppers to efforts of the teachers and sincerity of the students.
“It’s the never-say-die spirit of the city and the state that motivates students to do very well. Also, aspirations are very high and benchmarks are already set by previous batches,” said Norina Fernandes, principal of Lilavatibai Podar School.
