Karnataka education minister lauds child writing SSLC exam with lower limb

MANGALURU: A boy’s feat of writing SSLC exam with his lower limbs drawn the attention of primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar.
Kaushik Acharya, a student of SVS High School, Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, wrote SSLC examination with his feet with a strong will that his disability should not deter his dreams of scaling greater heights in life.Born with no hands, Kaushik had already written Kannada exam on Thursday using his toes. Coming to know of this, minister Suresh Kumar shared Kaushik’s pic writing exam on social media.
“I appreciate Kaushik, a student of SVS High School of Bantwal taluk who has written exam without anyone’s help with his toes. Such persons make life meaningful. They represent the humanitarian values of society,” Suresh Kumar wrote on Facebook and Twitter.
The minister also shared the picture of Kaushik writing Kannada exam sitting on a floor mat at SVS High School exam centre on Thursday. Kaushik, son of Rajesh Acharya – Jalajakshi Achary couple of Bastipadpu village of Kanchigarapete, Bantwal, was physically challenged by birth itself. A talented student Kaushik exhibited his aptitude in drawing, painting, clay modelling, sculpture, dance, yoga, swimming, cricket and other co-curricular activities.
In fact, TOI had highlighted his talents in its columns in January 2018 when he was just 13 years. His major pastime includes creating wooden sculptures, decorative wall hangings and making crafts with his legs. By birth, he has no right arm and his left arm has only few inches of growth. Despite this disability, he plays volleyball, cricket and even pedals bicycle too after his class hours.
Kaushik learnt the technique of creating wooden sculptures and other talents from his father, who is a carpenter. Meanwhile, his mother Jalajakshi Acharya promotes his talent by encouraging him. Kaushik has an elder brother Karthik and the younger one is Mokshith.