Chinnadurai, a 17-year-old Dalit student from Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, faced caste violence but managed to secure 78 per cent marks in the 12th public examinations. Similarly, A Nivetha, a transgender student, scored 47.1 per cent marks, despite facing adversities.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin felicitated both Chinnadurai and Nivetha on Tuesday, acknowledging their achievements in the face of challenges.
Speaking to reporters, Chinnadurai expressed gratitude for the CM's support and shared his plans for higher education, aiming to pursue B.Com at a college in Tirunelveli and subsequently becoming a chartered accountant.
Chinnadurai had endured a brutal attack by three schoolmates from a dominant caste in August 2023, resulting in hospitalization and surgery on his hand and fingers. Despite this, he continued his education with the assistance of a scribe during exams.
Nivetha's journey was marked by rejection from her family due to her gender identity. However, she persisted and found support among other transgender individuals to pursue her education, ultimately scoring 283 out of 600 marks in the 12th board examinations.
Both Chinnadurai and Nivetha received praise from social media users for their resilience and determination.
Nivetha aims to clear the NEET examination and become a doctor, aspiring to serve the marginalized and transgender community.
