Father's death gives Class XII boy a purpose, writes board exam prior to performing last rites

G Manikandan was not a good student. But his father S Ganesan's death on Monday night appears to have altered his approach to studies and given him a mission. So, far from giving the Class XII board exam a miss on Tuesday, he sat for it prior to conducting his father's last rites on the grounds that he understood he needed to "find a job and take care of the family."

Manikandan's father S Ganesan, 55, who was a tailor in Achankuttapatty village of Salem district, used to be the only bread earner in the family. His wife Saroja is a homemaker. Apart from Manikandan, the couple has two daughters. The elder daughter is married and the younger one, who finished Class XII last year, was not able to go to college because of economic reasons.

Ganesan had suffered from breathing problems over the last month. He was admitted at Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital. He was diagnosed with a cardiac condition, said their relative A Satheesh Kumar

A few days back, his health worsened, and the family got him discharged from hospital to allow him to die a peaceful death at home.

Following Ganesan's death, Manikandan hesitated for a while whether to take the history exam on Tuesday. But he made up his mind quickly. "My mother and sisters were in favor of my taking the exam on Tuesday," said the boy. He wrote the exam in the Achankuttapatty Govt Higher Secondary School and performed the last rites of his father at about 4pm.

He was sure he had written the exam well even though he lost. "I will graduate from college and get a job to take care of my family," he quoted.