Lucknow: Determination took centre stage at the convocation of Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU) as students with disabilities and those from humble backgrounds emerged among the top achievers on Friday.Rana Pratap, who has locomotor disability, received the Chancellor’s gold medal. After his father died in 2019, his elder brother Raghuvendra Pratap, a vegetable vendor, became the family’s sole earning member while his mother remained a homemaker.“The disability scholarship from the university ensured I did not discontinue my studies. I want to pursue a PhD,” he said.Blind student Pooja Sagar, MA Hindi topper and Chancellor’s gold medallist, is the daughter of farmer Arvind Kannaujiya and homemaker Anurawati Rani. “I now want to pursue a PhD and become a professor,” she said.Chancellor’s gold medallist Sejal Pandey, who is deaf, spoke to TOI through a sign-language interpreter. Daughter of medical shop worker Vijay Pandey and homemaker Urmila, she said, “Communication was my biggest challenge but I never wanted it to become a barrier. I want to continue my PhD.”Irshad Alamhas low vision and won the chief minister’s gold medal in BA Education and Special Education.“Reading for long hours was difficult but I adapted with assistive tools. My parents, farmer Murtaza Hussain and homemaker Arza Khatoon, never allowed me to give up,” he said.Himanshu Bajpai, who has low vision, won five gold medals, including for topping MA Education. His mother died in 2025.The Vice Chancellor’s gold medallist in MA Political Science, who has locomotor disability, said his father Ram Bahar, a daily wage worker in Mumbai, supported the family despite financial hardship.Several toppers expressed disappointment after learning that Uttar Pradesh Governor and Chancellor Anandiben Patel could not attend the DSMNRU convocation because of a timing clash with the Lucknow University convocation on Friday.Ayushi Vishwakarma won the Chancellor’s silver medal for MSc Statistics. She is the daughter of Sunil Vishwakarma, a driver, and Sunita Vishwakarma, a homemaker. Ayushi said financial pressures repeatedly threatened to disrupt her education, but the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scholarship enabled her to stay on course.Ayushi said she aims to pursue higher studies, become a professor in statistical science and clear the Indian Statistical Service examination.Anamika, daughter of farmer Omkar Rawat and homemaker Sushila Rawat, also cited the EWS scholarship asdecisive in continuing her education.Aakash Patel, who won the Chancellor’s gold medal in MA History, is the son of govt official Arvind Kumar Patel and homemaker Usha Devi Patel. He said his family encouraged him to focus on academics throughout his education. Patel plans to pursue a PhD and continue higher studies in history.
