Daughters of KSRTC and auto driver strike gold at BU

Daughters of a KSRTC bus driver and an auto driver finished as toppers at Bangalore University’s 54th convocation.

Vinutha KV, whose father is a KSRTC driver, walked off with seven gold medals as the topper of the varsity’s postgraduation, while Varalakshmi, whose father ekes out a living riding auto, bagged four gold medals and four cash prizes as top undergrad student.

After finishing her degree in National College in Bagepalli, Vinutha arrived at BU for her Masters in Chemistry. “I’ve been passionate about chemistry from school days,” she told DH. “I wanted to achieve something in this field. I’ll be pursuing my PhD in organic chemistry at BU.”

Having already cleared Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) She would also prepare for National Elligibility Test (NET) and qualify as a teacher in the subject.

Undergraduate topper Varalakshmi is doing MSc in Mathematics at Bangalore Central University (BCU).

“I didn’t expect to be the university topper,” she said. “I thought I’d end up with seventh or eighth rank. But this has come as a real motivation for me to do better in masters.

“After my masters, I will prepare for NET and other examinations to become a lecturer,” Varalakshmi, who did her undergrad in BMS College for Women in Bengaluru, added.

A student who finished as II PU topper in Kolar district with 98% also bagged five gold medals and two cash prizes, while Shankar Bhashiyam O, who studied BCom in KGF’s Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College, scored sixth rank in PU at state level.

Sowmya N, a topper from the varsity’s B Ed stream, received three gold medals and five cash prizes. “I quit my job as a teacher just to study BEd which is mandatory to become professor,” Sowmya, an MSc graduate from Bangalore University and a BEd student from Anugraha BEd college, said.

“My husband has been a great support. I also scored 343rd rank in Government PU College professor entrance examination and gave it up and score an even better ranking,” she added.

The toppers would receive their medals and cash prizes from the country’s Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at the 54th convocation function on Monday.