(Center) Momita Karki with her family. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 5
Sixteen year old Momita Karki made it to the top 10th rank in the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). She secured 95.33% with distinction marks in all the subjects.
The daughter of Hera Bahadur Karki, a milkman and her mother Bhes Kumari, Momita along with her elder brother and sister were raised in a cow farm (Khuti), where they look after ten cows, 14 goats at Tsezou, L Khel Kohima village near Thizama. They have been staying in the farm for more than 25 years.
She passed out from Regimental School, 4th NAP Thizama, and walks 35 minutes every day to reach her school. A student there since class A, Momita’s elder brother was also the top 38th rank holder in HSLC 2014.
She was inspired by her brother’s success, who had encouraged her to secure a better rank than him. Momita recalls her godfather, ‘Apfutsa’ Lt. Vinyüzo Mepfhüo, from L. Khel Kohima Village, who she said would have been the happiest person if he was alive to witness her success. Her godfather, who was their landlord, passed away just before her HSLC Exam preparations.
She also appreciated the support and encouragement from her parents, brother and sister, and uncles, which helped her develop patience and determination. Her elder brother Manoj Karki is presently pursuing B.Sc. final 6th semester at Kohima Science College Jotsoma while her elder sister Meena Karki is doing BA 5th semester in Kohima College. She also gave credit to her teachers for being her constant source of inspiration.
When she gets off school, Momita helps out her parents in household chores and gathering cattle fodder, leaving very little time for other hobbies. But Momita says that she enjoys her life.
Although she doesn’t follow a fixed routine or set duration for her preparations, she goes with the strategy of charting out lessons to complete for a day. This enables her to juggle around with household chores as well, helping her parents in the farm. In a rough estimate, she said that from the month of January, she studied about 8-9 hours a day.
Some suggestions she has always carried along with her are “not to rush into completing syllabus” and to not give up.
Momita’s parents also expressed delight at their daughter’s performance, while lamenting that her godfather was not alive to celebrate her accomplishment.
Oh her future, Momita aspires to study business or accountancy, and plans to take up commerce at Ruzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima. Following the footsteps of her siblings, she chose her next alma-mater at RHSS, as her “first and last option.” “It is convenient for me and my family and it is nearer to home in Thizama,” she said.
On being asked what message she would like to convey to her fellow students, Momita said one should take hard work as the most essential component to succeed in life; and also faith in God.
