Their never-say-die spirit stood out when they sat in examinations. Though separated by distance, they were brought closer by their ability to withstand the testing times — one at the college level, the other at school level.

A BA II year student of Chhatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University in Kanpur, Mithilesh Kumari, who is suffering from oxygen deficiency in blood, took her sociology paper with an oxygen cylinder attached to her. Sitting at SN Degree College, she said the illness would not deter her from completing her education.

Jabbar Hussain, 66, appeared in the high school examination under Uttar Pradesh board at Mahatma Gandhi Inter College at Juniha village under Fatehpur district for a record 42nd time. A vegetable vendor, Hussain solved the question paper well before time and came out of the classroom with a big smile. He sounded optimistic and said he had done well but all depended on the board to judge his performance.

Principal of the college Hari Om said for the last three years, he had been seeing Hussain in the examination centre but he could not pass. “Hussain is hardworking and sincere. He has never tried to use unfair means to pass the examination,” he said.