Bhatkal: In a remarkable academic achievement, Shagufta Anjum, a student of the Government Composite Urdu High School in Sirsi, has secured a perfect score of 625 out of 625 in the Karnataka Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination, emerging as one of the state’s top rankers.

Originally hailing from Bihar, Shagufta has been living with her family in Tipu Nagar on the outskirts of Sirsi for the past several years. Her father, Maulana Manzarul Islam, is an Islamic cleric, while her mother, Sahira Banu, is a homemaker. The eldest of five siblings, Shagufta joined the Sirsi Urdu school in the eighth grade after relocating from Bihar, opting for English-medium instruction despite initial language barriers. With no prior knowledge of Kannada, she successfully overcame the linguistic challenges and adapted quickly, eventually mastering the regional language.

Shagufta attributed her outstanding success to her dedication, the unwavering support of her parents, and the encouragement and guidance of her teachers. She highlighted the special coaching sessions held during the holy month of Ramzan, which proved especially helpful. She maintained a disciplined study schedule, starting early at 5 a.m. and continuing late into the night after school hours.

Teachers at the school described her as a sincere, hardworking, and disciplined student. Her class teacher, Shagufta Naseem, noted that although Anjum initially faced difficulties in subjects like mathematics and science, she made consistent efforts to improve, regularly seeking clarification and dedicating herself to overcoming academic obstacles.

Shagufta's exceptional achievement marks a historic milestone for the Government Urdu School in Sirsi, making her the first student from the institution to achieve a perfect score in the SSLC examination. Her success has been widely celebrated across the community. Dignitaries including Karnataka’s Minister for School Education and Literacy, Madhu Bangarappa, local MLA Bheemanna Naik, and officials such as DDPI Basavaraju and BEO Nagaraj Naik visited the school to felicitate Shagufta, her family, and her teachers.

Expressing her gratitude, Shagufta said she owes her success to the blessings of God, the unwavering support of her parents, and the relentless efforts of her teachers—especially the school’s headmaster Anand S. Korwar and her class teacher Shagufta Naseem. Looking ahead, she aspires to become a doctor and is preparing to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to pursue medical education in Karnataka.

Shagufta’s story has not only brought immense pride to her school and district but has also inspired many young students, especially girls, from Urdu medium schools to aim higher and pursue their dreams with confidence and perseverance.