Chandigarh:
Displaying extraordinary courage and determination, 17-year-old Kanishka Bisht from Chandigarh appeared for her Class 12 board examination despite battling severe pneumonia and spending 13 days in the ICU.
A student of Khalsa School Sector 26, Kanishka had her examination centre at a government school in Manimajra. She reached the centre in a wheelchair, supported by oxygen and essential medical equipment, to write her Physics paper.
According to her father, Prem Singh, Kanishka fell ill on January 30 with fever and cough, which later worsened as chest congestion developed into pneumonia. She was initially admitted to a government hospital in Panchkula and later referred to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. She remained on a ventilator for six days and spent 13 days in the ICU, during which she was unconscious for 10 days.
With no significant improvement, she was later shifted to a private hospital. Despite doctors advising complete rest, Kanishka insisted on appearing for her Class 12 examination. “Papa, I cannot miss my paper,” she told her father.
The Physics examination of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for non-medical students was held on February 20.
Her father shared that Kanishka, who has been differently-abled since childhood, has faced several challenges earlier as well. Although the illness left her extremely weak, she remained determined to continue her studies.
Special arrangements were made by the hospital administration and school authorities to ensure her safety. A team of doctors accompanied her to the examination centre to provide immediate medical assistance if required, and separate arrangements were made inside the examination hall.
Kanishka’s resilience and commitment to education have drawn widespread admiration across the city.
